I'm kind of thinking there might be a market as well. For companies that don't have a good, consistant set of library parts I've seen multiple models of the same fastener that don't even look the same, if you can find the size you need at all. If not, the user will typically model up something quick and dirty just to get the drawing out, usually not even close to spec. Then you assembly and dwg look all funky because 2 fasteners of the same nominal size but different length have been modeled by 2 different people and are sitting next to each other and look TOTALLY different. Generally they make them as stand-alone parts also because they don't want to take the time to make a table (Hey, it's not MY job!) so the fasteners can't be swapped out easily, and all notes referencing the geometry and item bubbles in the dwg will fail. Plus, even if the parts are modelled correctly, usually the parameters for BOM nomenclature are filled out differently so the BOM looks funny. They usually have no predetermined constraints either, and the orientation is always different. Ugh! Then there's the issue, as mentioned, of the parts brought in as import files, usually done by simply opening the file and saving it instead of inserting the data from file into a start part so you get all your layers, relations, and parameters.
I'd love to start doing this for companies. I don't think management realizes how much time and money could be saved, and how much more consistant things could be in their Pro/E world. Hmmmm......
In Reply to Paul Korenkiewicz:
I've ALWAYS thought there was a market for someone to come along and
create a "standard fastener" library and then figure out how to run
Pro/BATCH to customize it for specific customers so that all the layers
and parameters are all appropriate. We used to have a mapkey to strip
all the layers and rebuild them as well as one to add our standard
parameters so our BOM on our template all fill in correctly for
downloaded models but I just haven't had any free time to sort them out
in WF4...
One simple thing you can do is NOT download models in NATIVE
Pro/ENGINEER!!! This allows you to insert the translated file (step is
my favorite, but iges or neu should work just as well...) into your
start part which should already HAVE all your layers and parameters
correctly defined.
As for how we handle fasteners and orings and other purchased parts, we
basically have a small directory of "stock parts", but there is no
standard practice... One of my big pet peeves is when someone creates
an assembly with "downloaded" models of fasteners that are all surfaces
and show all the cuts on the thread... I do concept work on fairly
large assemblies and I really don't need to be wasting memory with these
types of models when a simple revolve feature would work just fine...
On a side note, another practice I'm trying to push around here is to
actually create the standard TAP DRILL feature at the end of fastener
models. It's a nice way to see exactly what the machining would look
like which is particularly handy for me and all my layout work AND
especially since it's mostly very high pressure hydraulics where having
the tap drill break thru could be very bad... Once they need to be
released, it's easy to simply suppress the feature....
Paul Korenkiewicz
FEV , Inc.
4554 Glenmeade
Auburn Hills, MI, 48326-1766
