Guide to DWXSolidWorks Users. It is the Xpress version of DriveWorks - the SolidWorks Certified Gold Partner for Design Automation - There are two aspects to working with DriveWorksXpress

Rules Based Design Automation

© DriveWorks Ltd All rights reserved 2007 1

DriveWorksXpress Tutorial

DriveWorks Ltd

01/23/2007

2007

DriveWorksXpress Tutorial

1. Introduction

Start by installing the Models to a NEW FOLDER on your C: Drive. You should call this folder C:\DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryFiles This example will allow you to step through DriveWorksXpress from start to finish. You will have the opportunity to follow a script, capture the features and dimensions that you want to change, create the user interface and assign rules. At the end you will be able to specify a new Gantry Crane.

2. About DriveWorksXpress

DriveWorksXpress is the easy to use rules based design automation tool for SolidWorks Users. It is the Xpress version of DriveWorks - the SolidWorks Certified Gold Partner for Design Automation - www.driveworks.co.uk There are two aspects to working with DriveWorksXpress

1. Administration - ie Setting up your Project - Decide which parameters in your model you want to drive or change - Create a simple form for entering input values - Define rules to determine how your model will behave and link to the inputs on your form 2. Run - Running new models from the Project you have set up - Enter input values into your form - Generate new models and drawings Once a project has been set up, it can be Run over and over again to automatically create the new models and drawings


http://www.driveworks.co.uk/

Let’s get started

1. Launch SolidWorks 2007

2. Launch DriveWorksXpress The DriveWorksXpress Welcome Screen Opens

The Welcome Screen provides you with feedback on the options available to you, on the state of the project (s) you are working on, or on the projects you have already set up and that are ready to Run. Note - DriveWorksXpress uses a database to store all the knowledge and information needed to generate the outputs, clones and specifications. When you open DriveWorksXpress for the very first time it creates a default database to store your work called driveworksxpress.mdb. The DriveWorksXpress Welcome screen always displays the Folder Path and File Name of the currently available database.


The Welcome Screen also displays feedback on options available to the user:

• Create/Change your database • Add Models, or Edit your existing models • Run Models

Create/Change Database When DriveWorksXpress is launched without a database loaded, the only ptions are to use the default database OR to create a new one. o

Add/Edit Models his is only enabled once a database has been selected. T

Run This is only enabled once you have the completed the Administration/Set up of your project. You can then generate new models using the Input form you have created, and based on the parameters you have already captured and the rules ou have assigned rules. y

or this exercise we will create a new database F

3. Create a New Database

heck the Radio Button against Create/Change database C lick Next C

A Windows dialog box appears rowse to where you want to create your new database (.mdb file) B

or this exercise - name the database LiftingBeamExample F

ype the New File Name into the File Name Field and click Open T

NOTE: Database Names must be unique. If a name is not unique a warning message will appear advising that an existing database will be overwritten. You may choose YES or NO to overwrite. NOTE: Once you start using DriveWorksXpress regularly you may choose to store multiple projects in a single database in different databases.

. Add your SolidWorks Models to DriveWorksXpress 4 DriveWorksXpress lets you create variants of your CAD assemblies, parts and drawings. To do this you need to open your CAD file and add the relevant models o DriveWorksXpress. t


As this is the first time you have worked on DriveWorksXpress you will need to Browse for a new Model to add to your Database.

Check Add/Edit Models A new window will open so you can Browse to the location of your file – in this case c:\DriveworksXpressMobileGantryFiles\MobileCrane Now select the top level SolidWorks Assembly file Mobile Gantry.SLDASM

Click Open 5. Capture – Select which models you want to drive DriveWorksXpress now displays the assembly tree for the open assembly. Double Click the + symbol by the Assembly to expand / collapse the tree.


Select the parts/assemblies that you want DriveWorksXpress to control by checking the box next to each item Note - The Model will now also be open and visible in SolidWorks behind the DriveWorksXpress wizard For this exercise check the following models: -

• Beam Assembly • Universal Beam • SWL Master • Leg Assembly

g • Top Leg

lick Next

• Lower Le

C Note: Within the main capture tab there are four other tabs. These are for the different file types that DriveWorks can capture and drive. These are: Dimensions & Features, Custom Properties, Drawing and Configurations.

.1 Capture - Dimensions and Features

ou pecify new models based on the original

riteria using your own input forms.

5 DriveWorksXpress lets you capture specific Dimensions and Features so that ycan apply rules and / or so you can sc


A parameter is captured by selecting the model that the parameter exists in from the tree view and clicking Add Once the Add button is clicked the DriveWorksXpress wizard will disappear and the Parameter manager will open at the bottom of the SolidWorks feature manager. Follow the steps below which will guide you through each parameter that is to be captured for the Lifting Beam Example.


5.1.1. Universal Beam Select the Universal Beam from the tree view and click Add Capture the Section Length of the Universal Beam In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that contains the dimension to be captured (for the Section Width it is the plane named Right End plane). The dimension will appear on the model.

Select the dimension from the model (by clicking on the dimension value).

The SolidWorks Name of the dimension will appear as SolidWorks Selection in the Parameter Manager

Enter a New DriveWorks Name This can be something more meaningful eg Beam Length The captured parameter will also now appear in the Parameter list. Next Capture the Section Height of the Universal Beam. In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that contains the dimension to be captured (for the Section Height it is the Base Extrude). The section dimension will appear on the model


Click on the dimension and then, in the DriveWorksXpress Parameter Manager, enter a new name – Beam Height Return to the DriveWorksXpress Model Wizard by clicking Finish 5.1.2. Lower Leg Select the Lower Leg from the tree view and click Add Capture the height of the Lower Leg In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that contains the dimension to be captured (for the Lower Leg it is Sketch 1). The Lower Leg sketch dimension will appear on the model. Click on the dimension that controls the height and, in the parameter manager, enter a new DriveWorks Name – Lower Leg Height Click Apply Then Return to the DriveWorksXpress Wizard by clicking Finish 5.1.3. Top Leg Select the Top Leg from the tree view and click Add

Capture the height of the Top Leg

In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that contains the dimension to be captured (for the Top Leg it is the Plane named Height). The Top Leg plane dimension will appear on the model. Click on the dimension and, in the DriveWorksXpress Parameter Manager, enter a new name – Top Leg Height. Click Apply.

5.1.4. Inner Diagonal feature

Capture the Inner Diagonal Feature

The overall width of the gantry may also affect whether or not we need all the supporting members. DriveWorksXpress can control the suppression state of sketches, planes, features, folders etc. and can also delete them from the model. In this example we have a folder with features in it. Using rules we can control whether we have these features or not.

Select the folder named Inner Diagonal from the SolidWorks Feature Manager The folder name will appear in the DriveWorksXpress parameter manager.


Enter a new DriveWorks name Inner Diagonal. Click Apply Click Finish to Return to the DriveWorksXpress Wizard 5.1.5. Leg Assembly Select the Leg Assembly from the tree view and click Add Capture the plane that controls the overall height of the two parts (top leg and lower leg) when they are mated together. Select the plane named Top from the SolidWorks Feature Manager The plane name will appear in the DriveWorks Parameter Manager. In the Parameter Manager, enter a new DriveWorks Name Overall Height Click Apply Click Finish to return to the DriveWorksXpress Wizard Select the Custom Properties TAB to start capturing Custom Properties


6. Capture - Custom Properties DriveWorksXpress can also drive values to Custom Properties: These are useful for linking to annotations in drawings to drive text on drawing borders or notes. They are also useful for acting as placeholders where complex rules can be broken down into more manageable portions. Double Click on Mobile Gantry to expand the tree, if it is not already expanded.

6.1 Transfer the Custom Properties for the Mobile Gantry Assembly Highlight the Mobile Gantry Assembly in the tree view. Any existing Custom Properties will appear in the left hand pane under the window Non-Captured Properties. In this example these are:

• Drawn by • Safe Working Load • Project

Transfer all these to the Captured Properties Panel using the arrow keys

Select the Drawing Tab


7. Drawings As well as generating new models DriveWorksXpress can also produce new drawings of the model. This is done by associating a previously produced template drawing of the master model.

1. To add a drawing, highlight the Mobile Gantry top level assembly from the tree view and click Browse

2. Browse to the location of the template drawing (C:\DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryFiles\ Mobile Crane)

3. Select Mobile Gantry.SLDDRW and click Open The File Path of the drawing now appears in the drawing pane so that you can check you have the correct drawing

It is also possible to add one part drawing per part too Double click the Mobile Gantry Assembly in the tree view to expand (if not already expanded) and Add the template drawings for the following parts

• Top leg.SLDDRW • Lower leg.SLDDRW

Select the Configurations Tab


8. Configurations DriveWorksXpress allows you to build a rule to switch the configuration of your model to any other existing configuration. In this example highlight SWL Master in the Assembly Tree Select the option

Yes. Allow me to create a rule to switch configurations

Click Next to proceed from the Capture Tab to the Form Tab


9. Input Form You now need to create an input form that you will use as the interface for specifying new models – this form can be used again and again to specify and generate all the models and drawings according to the rules that will be put in place. Start by adding the input controls

9.1 Enter the name for the control in the Input Name field – Project Number Use the Drop Down to Select the type of control you want to use – Text Box Note: The Required checkbox denotes that an input must be entered Click Next to register the control and display the Control List

Repeat for the following input controls by clicking Add on the Control List


9.2 Input Name = Customer Name. Input Control Type = Text Box 9.3 Input Name = Drawn By. Input Control Type = Drop Down When a Drop Down control is selected a panel is activated that allows Drop Down values to be entered.

Enter the names that are to be selected from the drop down box here. Hit return after each name to place on the next line. 9.4 Input Name = Safe Working Load. Input Control Type = Drop Down Enter the following drop down values:

• 500 Kg • 1000 Kg

Note: We will be using these values to drive a configuration in one of the models. Ensure the entries are identical to those shown (i.e. space between 0 and K, upper case K, no spaces at front or end of each text string. 9.5 Input Name = Opening Height. Input Control Type = Spin Button A spin button requires some additional properties setting. These dictate the minimum and maximum values that can be selected and the increments the values will jump when the spin button is pressed.

Enter a min value of 1500 Enter a max value of 2500 Enter an increment value of 50

Note: The units that DriveWorks drives the models to are the document units the model has been set to. In this example we have used metric units 9.6 Input Name = Opening Width. Input Control Type = Numeric Text Box A Numeric Text Box allows limits to be set that the entered value is evaluated against. If the limits have been exceeded a warning will be given.

Enter a minimum value of 1500 Enter a maximum value of 4000

Note: Form Design - Once created you can move controls up and down, edit, delete and test them. Fields which have not been validated remain red You can now enter some test values to check that items such as spin buttons and drop downs have the information you require. You can even set default values. Click Next to proceed to the Rules Tab to set up and build your rules


10. Model Rules DriveWorks lets you use Excel syntax to build rules. We will use some common examples of this below. Rules Summary DriveWorksXpress provides you with a summary of the rules that need building

Checking an Action against one of the Rule Types will filter the rules by that particular Rule Type. It is possible to select more than one rule type at a time. Filtering is particularly helpful where there are large numbers of rules to be built Where Rules are not required for a particular type, the check box will not be enabled. The summary provides constant feedback on Total Number of Rules and Incomplete Rules (which still require rules to be built against them). File Name Rules (7) Start by building rules for File Names.

Edit File Name Rules Click Next

Note: By default the next screen displays only the files with Missing Rules and which need building. The file icon includes a red cross where rules are missing. To view all Files in the category uncheck the box


You can choose to view your Files as a List or as a Tree View

View List View Tree The Default View is View List Note: Build rules by highlighting and double clicking on the file. You can also use the shift key to multi-select files to build the same rule on. 1. Mobile Gantry

We will use the value Project Number as the rule for our File Name so that every time a new Mobile Gantry project is created it will be named based on the Project Number. To do this Highlight Mobile Gantry Double Click – the DriveWorksXpress Rules Builder Wizard appears

Note: To help build your rules use the tabs – Inputs | Recent | Math | Logic

Note –The items listed in Inputs are all the controls that you have created for entering inputs on your form. You map these inputs to your parameters when you are building your rules.


Click on the Input Value Project Number The effect of this will be to append the Project Number to the Mobile Gantry file name when you run your new specification.

Click Next to return to the Rules Summary List Continue by adding rules for the remaining 6 File Names

NOTE: In Rule Building the symbol & is used to link strings. 2. Beam Assembly

Build the rule as follows Opening Width & “Wide” & SafeWorkingLoad & “SafeWorkingLoad” Note - You can add and use Quick Text for frequently used text strings for example “wide”, “high”, “Opening Width” and so on. Just Add your text to the Recent Tab.

3. Universal Beam

Build the rule as follows Opening Width & “Wide” & SafeWorkingLoad & “SafeWorkingLoad” Because this rule was already created for the Beam Assembly it is possible to multi-select Beam Assembly & Universal Beam to apply the same rule

4. SWL Build the rules as follows Click on the Input Value – Safe Working Load

5. Leg Assembly Build the rule as follows Because DriveWorks can reuse files previously created you can build a library of standards. In this example you could use the height parameters to build up a text string as a means of identifying the file. Use the Original File Name, then add the Opening height & “high”. So the rule will appear as follows: Opening Height & “high”

6. Lower Leg

Base this rule on the following string Opening Height & “high”

7. Top Leg Base this rule on the following string Use the value Opening Height & “high”

Click Next to return to Rules Summary Configurations Rules (1)


Un check Edit File Name Rules

Edit Configuration Rules

DriveWorksXpress does not create new configurations but it can be set to drive an existing file. The Safe Working Load Label uses configurations.

8. SWL Master

Use the value SafeWorkingLoad

Click Next to return to Rules Summary

Custom Property Rules (3)

Un check Edit Configuration Rules

Edit Custom Property Rules Click Next

9. Drawn by

Use the value Drawn by Note: You can multi-select all the drawn by values and build these rules at the same time

10. Safe Working Load

Use the value Safe Working Load

11. Project Use the value Project Number

Click Next to return to the Rules Summary Dimension Rules (5)

Un check Edit Feature Rules

Edit Dimension Rules Click Next

12. Overall Height

Map to the Opening Height value from the Input Form

13. Top Leg Height Map to the Opening Height value from the Input Form/2 + 200

14. Lower Leg Height Map to the Opening Height value from the Input Form/2 + 200


15. Beam Length

Use the value – Opening Width

16. Beam Height Base this rule on the Safe Working Load Use an IF statement and say that IF the SafeWorkingLoad equals 500 Kg then use 200 otherwise use 250

Note: The value used in the expression must be identical to the input that can be selected. For example, if the user can select a value of 500 Kg from the Input control for Safe Working Load, this text string must be used in the expression. All alpha or alpha-numeric text strings must be presented within “speech marks” Feature Rules (1)

Un check Edit Dimension Rules

Edit Feature Rules Click Next

17. Inner Diagonal

Build an IF statement such that if the user has selected an opening width greater than 3000mm, then the Inner Diagonal feature is to remain Unsuppressed, if not then the Inner Diagonal feature is to be Suppressed

Remember All alpha or alpha-numeric text strings must be presented within speech marks “ ”. Numerical values do not require speech marks.

You have now assigned all the rules that you need to apply.

Click Next to Run


11 Run The input form you created now appears. Follow the Tool Tips and complete the form.

You can use the default values, base your specification on one you created earlier OR clear the form so that you enter the details from scratch. DriveWorks will now generate your new outputs.

If you want to create new files using the same rules, just fill out the form again, and again and again. Note: For further help see the Help files within DriveWorksXpress


Documents

Guide to DWXSolidWorks Users. It is the Xpress version of DriveWorks - the SolidWorks Certified Gold Partner for Design Automation - There are two aspects to working with DriveWorksXpress