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DeanLong1-Visitor
1-Visitor
October 3, 2011
Question

curious about Layouts

  • October 3, 2011
  • 12 replies
  • 2180 views

Hi all,


Just curious....


Layouts have been around since the beginning of Pro, promoted asa way to bridge the gap from 2D usersto the 3D users. Personally, I usedlayouts very early on in Pro...then as skels, Pubs and ECGsbecame more useful, better and easier, I abandoned their use.


Now that most of us are familiar and comfortable with3D and more robust, graphical methods are available, do you still uselayouts extensively?

    12 replies

    D
    DonSenchuk12-Amethyst
    12-Amethyst
    October 3, 2011

    Aside from one VERY stubborn user, I haven't seen anyone use or have a use for them in ~8 years. I really can't imagine what purpose they serve that couldn't be better leveraged using other areas of the software.

    T
    TimothyField13-Aquamarine
    13-Aquamarine
    October 3, 2011
    I use layouts to pass parameters values in table format to multiple parts without the danger of unwanted dependencies.

    I wish that 2D parametric sketching was available in layout even if it wasn't tied back to the 3D model.

    Tim
    B
    BrentDrysdale12-Amethyst
    12-Amethyst
    October 3, 2011
    Hi Dan,
    No. Not since Rev 16 for me and I think another group used it a bit back
    around 2002. Basically though the idea made sense the sketcher was crap
    compared to the even then sketcher in ProE proper.

    I think our experience mirrors yours in that as the 3D tools came along we
    went to them without a seconds hesitation. Been using those robustly ever
    since.


    Regards, Brent Drysdale
    Senior Mechanical Designer
    Tait Radio Communications
    New Zealand
    DDI +64 3 358 1093
    www.taitradio.com


    S
    swschultz1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    October 4, 2011
    I still feel that layouts are a valuable tool for specific types of
    products. There are numerous customers that I consult with where we have
    introduced the use of layouts to control top level critical constraints of a
    product such as a vehicle's wheelbase. These types of critical dimensions
    are not something that you want to let the average Joe Engineer to have
    access to making modifications to. The layout provides for a nice straight
    forward interface to these values. Critical product dimensions can be placed
    in a table on the layout. These dimensions are normally passed along to top
    level skeleton models. There is no need to hunt and peck features in the
    skeleton in an attempt to find these dimensions in the skeleton for
    modification. They are right there easily found for modification if
    necessary in the table on the layout. The layouts can obviously be locked
    from a data management perspective so that only those with proper authority
    can make changes to these critical product values.



    Best Regards,



    Scott Schultz

    Principal Consultant

    3D Relief Inc.

    3700 Willow Creek Drive

    Raleigh, NC 27604

    (919)259-0610

    -


    H
    HugoHermans12-Amethyst
    12-Amethyst
    October 4, 2011
    In my environment, designers started to use ProE using skeletons, publish and copy geometry features, tend to keep using this. Designers trained and coached to use layouts, stick to layouts. Both technologies are complementary, and very useful, but using both together is too much for some.
    Since publish and copy are about geometry, and layouts are about parameters and relations, it's easier to get designers into publish and copy. But layouts are more flexible, although limited to parameters.

    Met vriendelijke groeten, Best Regards,

    Hugo.
    L
    lylebeidler1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    October 4, 2011
    To add my 2 cents to what Scott said.We have a number of configure-to-order
    products. Our fuel tank models get their driving information (through copy
    geom & pub geom) from a skeleton, which in turn is linked to a drawing which
    is a de facto layout (though it is a regular drawing, not a Layout).

    This makes it very easy to

    1) enter the required information quickly, all in one place

    2) ensure that all required parameters have been entered - train the users
    that their job isn't done until every value in the table is filled in.



    That's not as simple if the user must fill in parameters in a 3d skeleton.

    --



    Lyle Beidler
    MGS Inc
    178 Muddy Creek Church Rd
    Denver PA 17517
    717-336-7528
    Fax 717-336-0514
    <">mailto:-> -
    <">http://www.mgsincorporated.com>
    D
    DonSenchuk12-Amethyst
    12-Amethyst
    October 4, 2011

    I think Lyle touches on something very important here. The functionality of layouts can be accessed without usingthe actual layout fileat all.



    In Reply to Lyle Beidler:


    To add my 2 cents to what Scott said.We have a number of configure-to-order
    products. Our fuel tank models get their driving information (through copy
    geom & pub geom) from a skeleton, which in turn is linked to a drawing which
    is a de facto layout (though it is a regular drawing, not a Layout).

    This makes it very easy to

    1) enter the required information quickly, all in one place

    2) ensure that all required parameters have been entered - train the users
    that their job isn't done until every value in the table is filled in.



    That's not as simple if the user must fill in parameters in a 3d skeleton.

    --



    Lyle Beidler
    MGS Inc
    178 Muddy Creek Church Rd
    Denver PA 17517
    717-336-7528
    Fax 717-336-0514
    < -
    < http://www.mgsincorporated.com


    T
    TimMcLellan12-Amethyst
    12-Amethyst
    October 4, 2011
    See attached email. The roller chain and welded chain provide a sample of
    what sort of "layout" functionality can be leveraged in 3D. While the
    example is a part, the concept can be applied to any system level design
    object as well.



    Please note the comments in the instructions about the parameters, editing,
    and watching the changes update.



    Tim McLellan
    Mobius Innovation and Development, Inc.
    L
    lylebeidler1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    October 4, 2011
    And I guess I should have mentioned that the biggest advantage, for us, is
    that the parameter tables are on a drawing which shows the finished product.
    Enter your values, regen, and you have immediate feedback on the
    ramifications. IIRC, you cannot do that with Layouts, they are restricted
    to datums & parameters only.



    --



    Lyle Beidler
    MGS Inc
    178 Muddy Creek Church Rd
    Denver PA 17517
    717-336-7528
    Fax 717-336-0514
    <">mailto:-> -
    <">http://www.mgsincorporated.com>
    J
    JWayman1-Visitor
    1-Visitor
    October 4, 2011
    Don,
    That's true to a certain extent. The (I think) important difference is that
    one Drawing can drive one assembly or one part, whilst one Layout can drive
    any number of assemblies or parts. Therein lies the power of the Layout.
    Therein also lies the issue, since creating a layout is an even less
    pleasurable experience than creating a drawing.

    Regards,


    John

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