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Automation tools can do a lot more than just build SolidWorks models and drawings. Learn how Razorleaf Corporation (and independent imlementation firm) solves complex iterative design problems using the TactonWorks configurator engine.
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Solving Iterative Design Problems with TactonWorksPaul Gimbel, Business Process Sherpa
Razorleaf Corporation
Slide 2 of 2
BACKGROUND
• Razorleaf Corporation SolidWorks Service Partner
Services ONLY (we’re not trying to sell you any products, we’re neutral)
Data Management (EPDM, Enovia, SmarTeam, Aras, V6, MatrixOne)
Design Automation (DriveWorks, Tacton, Custom Programmed API)
Workflow Automation (Microsoft SharePoint and Tools)
• Paul Gimbel (aka “The Sherpa”)
Mechanical Engineer, SolidWorks Demojock, Automation Implementer
All Razorleaf presentations will be available at www.razorleaf.com and on www.slideshare.net
Slide 3 of 2
Agenda
• This is NOT a TactonWorks sales pitch (I don’t sell TactonWorks)
Although if you’re looking at TactonWorks, this might be a good look at how the product can be used
• This is NOT a TactonWorks training course
Although if you are a TactonWorks user, you may learn something new
• New thinking process for design automation
• I’ll pass around an assumption and preconceived notions box, if everyone can just drop theirs in and pass it around, I’d appreciate it.
The
Razorl
eafArmy
Donate your outdated beliefs and preconceived notions
Slide 4 of 2
What do we mean by an ITERATIVE PROCESS?
1. Marked by iteration.
1. The act or an instance of iterating.
1. See iterate.
Slide 5 of 2
Case Study: Safety Rails
Slide 6 of 2
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Slide 7 of 2
The Basic Problem: Too Many Unknowns
The User Knows:
• Overall Length
We need to know:
• Number of segments
• Length of each segment
Slide 8 of 2
Traditional Approach 1: Ask For More Information
• Given: Overall Length
• Solution 1: Ask for more information
Cascading Input Approach
Min and Max f(Overall Length)
6060
Slide 9 of 2
Cascading User Interfaces: The Address Book
Slide 10 of 2
Traditional Approach 2: Make Assumptions
Slide 11 of 2
The New Paradigm…Darn Them!!
In case you were wondering:(from allrecipes.com)
Slide 12 of 2
Quick Background: What is TactonWorks
• TactonWorks
SolidWorks Add-In (Gold Solution Partner)
Drive SolidWorks models
• Tacton Configurator
Configuration solver engine
• Configuration problem
A problem with a finite number of solutions and a set of guidelines
Note: 16,214,875,175,438,624 IS A FINITE NUMBER
Pretty much everything is really finite if you think about it
Slide 13 of 2
How and Why Does TactonWorks Work Here?
Holistic approach
• Consider all constraints and options at once
• Develop a complete solution set to present back to the user
• Re-solve the complete solution set each time
• No dependencies
Slide 14 of 2
Starting Our Design Tree
Slide 15 of 2
Variant Tables: Your Storeroom in TactonWorks
Slide 16 of 2
Populating Your Variant Table
Slide 17 of 2
Using Variant Tables to Select Components
Inherited Attributes
Slide 18 of 2
Creating Attributes
1 2 0 0 k
Ʊ
Slide 19 of 2
Omnidirectional Constraints
All of These Are Equivalent. All Are Just As Effective.
Slide 20 of 2
TactonWorks Design Tree Dynamics
3
Slide 21 of 2
The Omnidirectional User Interface
Locking in the segment length yields inconsistent choices
Slide 22 of 2
Dynamic User Interface
Slide 23 of 2
Referencing Specific Instances
Slide 24 of 2
Dynamic Constraints
Slide 25 of 2
Generic Instance Constraints
Generic instance references expand to address all instances
• This is the same as:
Segment[1].StartLocation=Segment[2].EndLocation
AND
Segment[2].StartLocation=Segment[3].EndLocation
AND
Segment[3].StartLocation=Segment[4].EndLocation
AND….
Slide 26 of 2
This and All and Custom Collections
Collections group a series of components together
• THIS collection is a collection of a component and all of its subcomponents
• ALL collection crosses boundaries to any component in the implementation
• The THIS collection used at the top-level assembly is the same as ALL
Slide 27 of 2
Dynamic Quantities
Component quantities can be:
• Static values (ex. 3)
• One component for each member of a variant table (aka Domain)
• Driven by an attribute (on the direct parent or TLA)
Slide 28 of 2
User Interface Steps and Dynamics
User interface steps solve a portion of the design tree
• That branch of the design tree must be known going into the step
• All component quantities must be known
To create dynamic quantities:
• Create a step to determine the qty
• The next step can use that qty
• Create a parallel area in the tree
Slide 29 of 2
Creating an Inputs Component – The Full Process
1. Create a component in the Design Tree to collect the inputs
2. Create attributes for your inputs
3. Create default values using constraints with ~=
4. Create parallel attributes in the top-level component
5. Use all.select().equal to ensure that the values are passed
12
3
4
5
Slide 30 of 2
Updating the UI for an Inputs Component
1. Create a new first UI step (Top Part = Inputs) for new attributes
2. Set Qty and Overall Length to be Read-Only in the second UI step
Slide 31 of 2
Summary
• Dynamics allows us to replicate a portion of our tree
• Static values, attribute values or domain size
• References can be direct (ex. Segment[1]) or generic (Segment[instance])
• Collections (all. and this.) make global constraints easier
• Dynamic quantities must be solved in a previous user interface step
• Create a parallel Inputs component to collect information - all.select().equal
• Make values ReadOnly once they have been established in a step
QUESTIONS (AND HOPEFULLY ANSWERS)
Here’s the Audience Participation Portion of the Show
Slide 33 of 2
Still Open For Questions!!!
PLEASE!!Let’s see if they really read the evaluation forms…
In the comments section, after your comments………everyone write…
“Wow, that last climb was steep!”
For the complete version of the presentation, including presenter notes, full code and models, visit www.razorleaf.com after the show! Yes, it’s free.
Cadel Evans beats Alberto Contador to the line at Fleche-Wallonne. Photo by AFP/Getty Images.
Slide 34 of 2
SolidWorks Trivia Question #1
SolidWorks used to have a release cycle of around nine months. When a second major release appeared in 1997, what was the second version called?
A. SolidWorks 97v2
B. SolidWorks R97v2
C. SolidWorks 97Plus
D. Skippy the Wonder CAD
Secondary releases were known as “plus” releases. SolidWorks released
97Plus, 98Plus and 2001Plus.
Slide 35 of 2
SolidWorks Trivia Question #2
The first release of SolidWorks, SolidWorks 95, included a printed User’s Guide. How many pages were in the SolidWorks 95 User’s Guide?
A. 22
B. 107
C. 15
D. 248,315
The user’s guide was a scant 22 pages in a format somewhere around
6” wide x 9” tall.
Slide 36 of 2
SolidWorks Trivia Question #3
How many SolidWorks Certified Trainers existed worldwide with the release of SolidWorks 97Plus?
A. 10
B. 25
C. 100
D. 1000
Trick question. SolidWorks began
training certification in 1997.
Slide 37 of 2
SolidWorks Trivia Question #4
Before deciding on SolidWorks, which of the following names were being considered by Jon Hirshtick?
A. The Magical Mystery Mechanical Tour
B. Digital Interactive Prototyping With Advanced Deployment (or DIPWAD for short)
C. Bro/ENGINEER
D. All of the above
OK, fine. I made this one up.