How to Create Multiple Drawings Using the Same Assembly

[JS_12786992]

Hello, I would like to see if is possible to create multiple individual drawings from one main assembly. Currently our templates are set up so the revision level and initials displayed in the drawing are attached to the model and windchill. This works fine for the initial drawing that will get approved by the customer but because we treat each drawing as its own separate entity/part number and can be used to make multiple different end items, it becomes a massive headache. Currently we are having to create a family table with a separate instance per each drawing, which is a massive pain for file management and if we have to make any changes to a model once created. Also, since we custom machine and fabricate all of our products, we build our end item/complete assembly first then create the different supporting drawings by hiding components using component display. Any insight on how to make this possible would be greatly appreciated.

[kdirth]

I suggest you use simplified reps to remove features/models for each individual drawing.

Each drawing will need a unique name.  The drawing model will be a simplified rep of the main model.

[JS_12786992]

kdirth, I fail to understand how this would let us put a different revision level and initials on multiple drawings that reference the same assembly. I can see simplified reps being useful for removal/showing of components but not drawing and title-block information. Is there some other setting(s) that I am missing?

[StephenW]

I'll be honest. I think you have chosen a poor way of modeling your assembly based on your needs. Years ago, when the company I was working for bought in to Pro/e (old version of creo). We modeled our first couple of product assemblies like you are saying.  It was a painful lesson.

[BenLoosli]

If the different drawings have different revisions, the revision should NOT be at the model level but at the drawing level. This will allow you to keep each drawing with its proper revision.

As far as making one master assembly and then removing components to make sub-assemblies (If I understand it right), that is a nightmare like StephenW says! Someone was not thinking about revisions/changes in the future when they devised this design philosophy.

One of the things I have always tried to do when using a CAD system is to build my models like they would be manufactured. Individual part files get put into a sub-assembly and then multiple sub-assemblies get combined with some hardware parts to create the next higher assembly. This allows flexibility in replacing components and in making changes. A simple change in one object does not destroy the master assembly.

[JM_10432119]

Yea that sounds like a bad way of managing CAD. Family tables aren't meant to be used like that, at least to my knowledge. They should be used to make very standard parts that change in length or something so you can get all sizes of bolts from one file. Then you should save the bolt you use in the assembly separately because who wants to work with a family table. This would increase your chances of just missing putting a part on a drawing, not ordering it, not assembling it. Or vice-versa. It's all up to one guy who had better be caffeinated whether he keeps track of which parts have been suppressed on which drawing. For all that hassle just start splitting parts into assemblies. Talk to the shop, do it in a way that they'll actually build it so the drawings make sense.

Speaking of family tables another thing I've seen is changing the pre-machine, post-machine dimensions of a plate using a family table then using a family table assembly to change which family table part is used. So much easier to screw things up, better to use a machining assembly.