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This is a very interesting topic.
In some cases our drawings are the only documentation we can send to production and in other cases we can send the model and the parts are made by CNC. When you are dealing with complex geometry, it is difficult to fully dimension the drawings which poses a problem in some cases.
If the drawing is approved and has a signature, how do you determine if all dimensions were looked at when the decision was made? If the drawing does not contain all the dimensions to define the product, how do you insure the model was analysed during the approval process?
Some have suggested using GD&T which has a Surface call out that will let you point to a complex surface and state that surface must be within a particular tolerance range of that shape to be acceptable. Now the question is, how do you measure it and how do you document it was done correctly when approving the drawings?
This is a challenge for us as well and we are trying to find the most realistic approach that defines the product without having to create many cross sections to define complex geometry areas.
We don't officially use the 3D Drawing standard and do not annotate our 3D models but this seems to also be an option. The problem we have is that in some instances we can only provide a 2D Drawing for production and not a 3D model.
I would love to get some feedback and ideas from others about this.
"Too many people walk around like Clark Kent, because they don't realize they can Fly like Superman"
I'm not really savvy with inspection, but can't you inspect the physical part with CMM and directly compare it to a model? We use FARO tools here depending upon need. I don't know the details, but it seems to suffice for complicated profiles that would otherwise require point sets and sections with tolerancing. I think some of our vendors do it as well since they use neutral files for machining.
In Reply to Damian Castillo:
This is a very interesting topic.
In some cases our drawings are the only documentation we can send to production and in other cases we can send the model and the parts are made by CNC. When you are dealing with complex geometry, it is difficult to fully dimension the drawings which poses a problem in some cases.
If the drawing is approved and has a signature, how do you determine if all dimensions were looked at when the decision was made? If the drawing does not contain all the dimensions to define the product, how do you insure the model was analysed during the approval process?
Some have suggested using GD&T which has a Surface call out that will let you point to a complex surface and state that surface must be within a particular tolerance range of that shape to be acceptable. Now the question is, how do you measure it and how do you document it was done correctly when approving the drawings?
This is a challenge for us as well and we are trying to find the most realistic approach that defines the product without having to create many cross sections to define complex geometry areas.
We don't officially use the 3D Drawing standard and do not annotate our 3D models but this seems to also be an option. The problem we have is that in some instances we can only provide a 2D Drawing for production and not a 3D model.
I would love to get some feedback and ideas from others about this.
"Too many people walk around like Clark Kent, because they don't realize they can Fly like Superman"
Very good points and I forgot to mention that we have a 3D Laser Scanner that we use to verify First Article Samples.
We approve a sample after comparing the 3D Scan model to the CAD model and we have a report generated with Geomagic Qualify that we can refer to in the future as needed.
My biggest concern is the note or dimension on the drawing that gives you some sort of standard to go by when you can't send a 3D Model to production and they must rely only on the 2D Drawing.
We can verify after the fact if the part passes but during production, it's difficult for the 2D Drawing to convey the complex geometry using dimensions.
If they are not able to use the 3D model to CNC the part or in our case the molds, what could we provide them on the 2D Drawing to clearly define the complex geometry they are trying to create?
"Too many people walk around like Clark Kent, because they don't realize they can Fly like Superman"
Michael,
We outsource products all over the world. In some cases you can't provide a model and only a 2D Drawing. This is where the challenge is.
We have a good process for sending 3D models to manufacture a product and although it's usually the normal process, it's not always an option.
"Too many people walk around like Clark Kent, because they don't realize they can Fly like Superman"