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I have a need to have one flexible hose assembly with 8 different routing options. How are folks handling this type of scenario ? Jim Barrett Smith what is a suggested technique from PTC fro such an application ?
1. Flexible component comes to mind but that could get pretty involved
2. Separate assemblies something like XXXXXX-1_route1.asm XXXXXX-1_route2.asm and so forth
Thanks in advance
At one company we set up the following naming rules.
Base part number showing the straight length with end fittings: hose_fitting1.prt ( did them as part files for simplicity)
First assembly that used that hose had the hose shaped to installation 1 and named: hose_fitting1_assembly1-1.prt
First assembly that used that hose had the hose shaped to installation 2 and named: hose_fitting1_assembly1-2.prt
Second assembly that used that hose had the hose shaped to installation 1 and named: hose_fitting1_assembly2-1.prt
This allowed us to search Windchill for the hose_fitting1.prt and get a list of all of its uses.
This was also done before flexible components existed.
I think if I were to look at it again, flexible components with hose assembly files may be better. A lot would depend on how many duplicate hoses are in an assembly.
My 2 cents.
I work for a manufacturer that uses millions of hoses a year. think tillage
We use 8 different models for your situation.
We have predetermined hose lengths in our library that increment starting at 25mm for short hoses and jumps to 50mm for longer hoses for each size hose (-4 -6 -8 -10...)
We also use SWS hose ends on most all of our hoses.
for example: when I do a search in my PDM system for each part number I can find hundreds of routings for just one part number.
If the hose changes length then I look up the correlating part number and rename my models.
I couldn't begin to guess how many hose assembly part numbers we would have if we didn't do this.
It also makes servicing hoses a synch for dealers.
We also have a program that exports all of the hose data to a spreadsheet that catches any errors. I wish it would auto Name/Rename our parts as we check them in if needed but the programming for that is above my level.
Are there problems with this system? Yes, but the money this company is saving using this system saves them more than dealing with unique parts all over each machine. One downfall is we use a few extra fittings to make connections which leads to more leak paths which drove our line workers to follow stringent standards and become better at insuring hoses are assembled properly.
Example:
123456_LAY0001
123456_LAY0002
123456_LAY0003
123456_LAY0004
123456_LAY0005
123456_LAY0006
123456_LAY0007
123456_LAY0008
ProProgram may also be an option.