External parameters in assembly

[CreoCarlos]

Hi all
is it possible to link parameters to a notebook or excel in assemblies?
For example i would like to control the angles in this system of linkages (see picture) by changing values in a table.

[CreoCarlos]

i am using creo 4.0 commercial license 

[Trebla]

Hi CreoCarlos,

You could try from excel from here:

[CreoCarlos]

Turns out excel analysis is quite a good tool for a lot of stuff, thank you !

[tbraxton]

You can use a Creo Notebook (.lay) file to manage the definition and propagation of parameters to models. You can declare and undeclare the layout to a given model to enable or disable the functionality. Tables are supported in Notebook files.

This is an example of a Notebook used to control multiple parts and assemblies from a table.

Notebook with a table

[CreoCarlos]

Yes but this only works for components doesn´t it?

I can´t declare a notebook to an assembly and thus i can´t control its positoning nor is it possible to declare it to a motion skeleton.

[jbob]

You can also create a drawing in Creo, build a table and add the parameters into the table to control the angles.

[CreoCarlos]

Does this work with assemblies aswell? I know it works to control components but can you control positions in assemblies?

[Trebla]

Hi CreoCarlos,

With excel it works fine, with these 2 cells I control angles:

I changed the values, and regenerated the assembly:

[jbob]

This would depend on how you set up your constraints. If your constraints have an angle or distance you can modify them. I have not tested if this works with multiple constraint sets but this might also be an option as well.

I am not a big fan of overloading a model but you could add in the same assembly multiple times and turn this assembly on and off with parameters to show it in different positions depending on your criteria.

[tbraxton · Accepted solution]

Yes, layouts can be declared to assemblies and skeleton models. The main function of Notebooks is to define global parameters and then propagate them in a top down design. The example I posted above is used to drive multiple internal combustion engine architectures that employ skeletons, assemblies, and mechanism definitions.

With the notebook in session, open a part or assembly.
For a part, click Model Intent ▶ Image Declare. For a part or an assembly, click File ▶ Manage File ▶ Image Declare. The DECLARE menu appears.
Click Declare Nbk. A menu with a list of notebooks active in the current session appears.
Select the name of the notebook to which you want to declare the model. The model now references the notebook

[CreoCarlos]

this was what i was looking for! Had no idea the same command would be in different places for comp/assy, thank you

[lhoogeveen]

One thing to watch our for with Notebooks (.lay) and assemblies... I have not found a way within Creo to copy the Notebook (.lay) file with when doing a Save As of the assembly. I created Product Idea: Creo Save a Copy of Assembly - Multiple Enhancements I believe you can copy the Notebook (.lay) from a Windchill Save As.