Cloning parts in an existing scene and importing the same file multiple times

[Perryscope]

A common need when doing Technical Illustration for large vehicles is to add missing parts to the model as in many cases the CAD models are not complete (typical example: only one bolt in a wheel hub instead of all 8-12). For this reason there is a need to clone parts in the EBOM and position those.

The current workaround for this to reimport the model but as Creo Illustrate stops importing the same model twice and models are big a lot of tweaking has to take place (renaming the file or opening in Creo View and performing Save As Selected to reduce the data being imported, etc.). Importing a model twice is also a common use case for tool models that are being used in the scene.

Thus, the proposal is to:

1. enable cloning parts in the EBOM into the SBOM as instances

2. removing the limitation on importing the same file twice - Creo Illustrate should be able to assign different IDs to the two files instead

[IY_9634735]

totally agree - it is so painful when I need to add multiple parts

[JeffreyCoon]

Thank you for your feedback Perryscope.

While I agree it would make things easier for some users to be able to duplicate parts. We also have feedback from others that do not want this ability as it would violate the integrity of the CAD data. This issue is something we would like to address, but we need to make sure to do it correctly. With that being said it is not something that will be available in the near future.

[TK_9769352]

This is indeed a necessity.

If, like @JeffreyCoon says, there are users that do not want this possibility, make it available as an option. Or give a pop-up that when you copy multiple instances, that a file is no longer comapitble or whataver. Leave the choice at the Technical Illustrator. Their needs are different like @Perryscope explained..

[DJ_10403258]

You should be able to copy paste a part in the sbom.   Select the copied part and align it as needed.  I can't wait three weeks for design to fix the model.   I've got a hard deadline for work instructions.  Model updates can happen later. 

[MC_9740268]

I agree that this would be a very useful enhancement.  I also have had need for this capability in my animations.  I'm not sure how enabling clones would violate the CAD integrity since any additions or modifications to the illustration SBOM structure would not propagate back to the native CAD.  Please correct me if I'm wrong.  

[DJ_10403258]

This is real easy to do in SW Composer.   I've personally used the feature, in Composer,  dozens of times.

[ClayHelberg]

The lack of this feature is frustrating, and I end up doing tedious busy work outside of Creo Illustrate because it's not there.

Regarding the "integrity of CAD data" argument against it, it's not clear to me how this would be any different in that sense from letting illustrators rearrange the sBOM at will, move or hide parts, etc. Or, for that matter, allowing illustrators to import multiple models into an illustration. That's how we have to do it now if we need to add extra parts/copies of parts, and I end up having to do that all the time. This would just be an easier way to accomplish the same thing.