Creo Large Assembly Management Tips n' Techniques

Webcast Q&A

Question from Anonymous:  Should we limit the number of components in a top level assembly and if so, what should this limit be?

Answer:  There is no defined limit.  It has to do with your threshold of patience and the performance of your hardware.

Question from Anonymous:  Would it not be better to set a limit for your TLA especially if you are not ever going to open the Master Rep?

Answer:  If the assemblies are large, you should likely be using simplified reps.

Question from Anonymous:  We are using Simplified Reps, our TLAs are huge and can't be converted to Lightweight Viewables because the Master Rep is so large.

Answer:  This is truly where we need to use Positioning Assemblies.

Question from Anonymous:  Can you open an existing Rep as an Automatic Rep?  

Answer:  Yes but if you configure it on the fly.

Question from Anonymous:  I've never used external SR.  Can you explain them a little more?

Answer:  It is a rep of an assembly that acts as a separate assembly.

Question from Anonymous:  I am not familiar with absolute accuracy.  Where can I find more information?

Answer:  https://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_pma/r7.0/usascii/#page/part_modeling/part_modeling/part_five_sub/About_Part_Accuracy.html#wwID0ECMADB

Question from Anonymous:  Regarding Shrinkwraps:  I often use them for finding centroids but specific parts may cause it to fail.  Usually, with much effort, I can find the offending geometry and remove or alter it.  Is that related to accuracy?

Answer:  Possibly.  Can't tell for sure but the identical absolute accuracy should be tried.

Question from Anonymous:  Does the Automatic Rep retrieve the graphics only of a component?

Answer:  Automatic - Retrieves the minimum required data for presenting the assembly in the most accurate way.  This representation uses the graphics representation as the starting representation as the starting representation when possible.  The system then determines what data is required and retrieves it based on your actions; the geometry or master representation as needed.

Webcast Q&A

Question from Brian:  Where is training available?

Answer:  https://www.ptc.com/-/media/ptc-university/curriculum/creo/ptc-university-creo-curriculum-en.pdf

Webcast Q&A

Question from David:  How do you find and use family table instance accelerators?  

Answer:  https://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_pma/r7.0/usascii/#page/fundamentals/fundamentals/fund_ten_sub/About_Instance_Accelerator_Files.html

Webcast Q&A

Question from Jorge:  For making a drawing, should we always load the whole model with Master Rep?

Answer:  The trick is to use Simplified Reps as much as possible for drawing views understanding that there may be times when you can't avoid the Master Rep.  That is where you can use View blanking after one view is placed and then un-blank all views at the end.

Webcast Q&A

Question form Khaled:  Can you speak to the use of assembly cuts?  Impact on automatic reps, positioning assemblies as well as overall large assembly performance?

Answer:  Assembly cuts have a tremendous impact on assembly performance.  Assemblies need to regenerate everything before display begins.  Regeneration is way slower than repaint.  This can be controlled.

Webcast Q&A

Question for Lori:  If I do a shrinkwrap, then later there is a change to the component, will the shrinkwrap item be updated?

Answer:  Yes, with Associated Shrinkwraps - requires the Advanced Assembly Extension.

Webcast Q&A

Question from Arvin:  Why do I get a Windchill cache too large pop up window?  How do I get rid of this cache?

Answer:  You need to clean cache.  https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article/CS29555

Lino, Dayna - Awesome Webcast, appreciated! 🙂

Is there any download link for this video webcast and the associated presented slides ?

(The Link in the View in My Videos does not seem to work any longer and it would be nice to be able to have the slides handy as well)