When incorporating an end product assembly into a tooling assembly in Creo Parametric, there are several best practices to consider. These practices aim to manage the complexity of combining two assemblies (tooling and product), ensure clarity in the Bill of Materials (BOM), and maintain the integrity of the original product assembly. Here are some recommendations:
### Assembly Mode:
1. **Use Simplified Representations:** To manage a large end product assembly within a tooling assembly, utilize simplified representations (simp reps) to reduce complexity. This allows for displaying only the essential parts of the product assembly relevant to the tooling design.
2. **Separation of BOMs:** To avoid the product assembly affecting the tooling BOM, consider using the 'Exclude from BOM' option for the product assembly components in the tooling assembly. This ensures that the product assembly parts do not appear in the tooling BOM.
3. **Reference Control:** Implement reference control to prevent accidental modifications to the product assembly while working on the tooling assembly. This can be achieved by setting the product assembly to 'Reference' mode, which allows for referencing without the ability to modify.
4. **Visual Distinction:** Apply different color schemes or transparency to visually distinguish between the product and tooling assemblies. This helps in easily identifying and differentiating components during design.
### Drawing Mode:
1. **Phantom Lines for Product Assembly:** In the drawing mode, use phantom lines or different line styles to represent the product assembly in specific views. This approach visually differentiates the product assembly from the tooling components in your drawings.
### Additional Considerations:
1. **Layer Management:** Organize components into layers for better control and visibility. Assign product assembly components to a specific layer that can be easily turned on or off as needed.
2. **Interference Checks:** Regularly perform interference checks between the tooling and product assemblies to ensure that the tooling design doesn't inadvertently impact the product assembly.
3. **Version Control:** Maintain strict version control and clear documentation of changes, especially when updates are made to either the tooling or the product assembly.
4. **Collaboration:** Since you're the CAD admin and not directly involved in tool design, ensure open communication channels with the designers. This helps in understanding their specific needs and challenges.
5. **Training and Guidelines:** Provide training sessions or guidelines on how to effectively manage assemblies in tooling design, focusing on these best practices.
By following these practices, you can help the designers in your group effectively manage the integration of product assemblies into their tooling designs, while maintaining clarity and integrity in both the design and documentation processes.
~ CreoVerse
Michael P Bourque
Boston Regional User Group
