assembly tech

Assembly Techniques

Thiagu Palaniappan

Senior Application Engineer

Aug 1st 2014

Assembly Constraints

Component Interface

Flexibility in Assembly

Interchange Assemblies

Creo Options Modeler

Q & A

Agenda

Constraint Sets in Creo

Set1

Set2

Placement

Multiple constraint sets for components.

Enable/Disable for alternate positions.

New parameter PTC_CONSTRAINT_SET can be used in Family table or in model tree column to switch positions.

General Best Practices while Constraining

Double click constraint 3D notes instead of using placement tab to edit constraint type and constraint reference.

Use search tool to quickly select datums that maybe hidden.

Use automatic constraint type instead of selecting constraint type first and then selecting references.

General Best Practices while Constraining

Reorient component using CTRL + ALT or 3D dragger to avoid unwanted constraint types like normal instead of coincident. This is quicker than legacy move command.

Use config option comp_assemble_start set to move_then_place

Auto_constr_always_use_offset

Display constraints in model tree by setting model tree filter to display placement folder.

Model Tree Status Icons

Single CLEAR box Partially constrained / Packaged.

Double Box Might be fully constrained but it is child of a packaged component.

Pause Frozen component due to missing reference.

Pause with box Assembled to a component with missing reference.

Box with a DOT Mechanism connection.

Black box Suppressed.

Model Tree Component Preview & Prehighlight

Display_popup_viewer to YES

Prehighlight_tree to YES

Model Tree Search & Track changes

Search in model tree using part names or use predefined searches.

Changes per session can be tracked

Component Interface

Predefine constraints as interface in the model allows efficient assembly constraining.

Interface can be placing/receiving interface.

You can pattern interface if applicable.

Component Interface

Existing assembly constraints can be saved as component interface for efficient reuse.

Position components using auto place.

Flexible Components

Adding flexibility to a component allows you to assemble components in different geometry states without affecting the quantity in BOM.

Flexibility allows varying dimensions, parameters, surface finish, geometric tolerances, features, components.

Flexible Components

Assemble flexible components with option to ignore flexibility.

Flexibility can also be added to any component that is already in the assembly.

Flexibility added to an already assembled component does not save the flexibility to the component.

Replace by

Family Table

Interchange Assembly

Reference Model

Layout

By Copy

Unrelated

Interchange Assembly

Interchange assembly is a special assembly subtype that defines automatic replacement for a set of components.

Requires AAX license.

Capabilities

Benefits

Create modular product architectures from

scratch or from overloaded assemblies

Define product modules, create module

variants, and map interface tags between

modules

In combination with PTC Windchill, generate

and validate precise product configurations

defined by a bill of materials (BOM)

Create and Validate Modular Products

What is Creo Options Modeler ?

Creo Options Modeler for modular product design - It is a dedicated app for

creating and validating 3D modular products.

Achieve faster design cycles by creating and

validating modular assemblies earlier

Reduce process errors and engineering rework

by directly re-using available 3D models

Automate the creation of product assemblies

with automated smart assembly placement

PROCESS STEPS WITHOUT OM

OPTIONS / CHOICES DEFINITION

Open existing overloaded assembly in Creo.

Save as Configurable product of the top level assembly.

Copy drawings if applicable.

Step 1 Configurable Product assembly

In the configurable product assembly, transfer Option

components to new configurable module.

This can also be done as save as of the subassembly

that contains Options in the save as dialog box in step1.

References auto-tagged automatically in this step.

Step 2 Configurable Module Assembly

Result of steps 1 & 2 showing configurable product,

configurable module and module variants in the

configurable structure

Configurable Structure

Existing Simplified reps are also available in the

configurable product assembly. This came through

during the save-as in step 1.

Save as External Rep is greyed out for reps of

Configurable Product assemblies. So create Variant

assembly instead of external simplified reps.

Simplified Reps

Activate one of the existing reps.

Select Variant builder.

Select Model tree selection in Variant Builder dialog box.

Select the included module variant under each

configurable module assembly and create Variant asm.

Step 3 Configure Variant Assembly

1

2

3

4

5

After step 3 , the variant assembly structure is shown

below. This is a regular assembly file that will have

wtpart structure and can be managed in Windchill.

Overall Process-

Variant Assembly Structure

1. OVERLOADED ASM 2. CONFIGURABLE STRUCTURE 3. VARIANT ASSEMBLY

PROCESS STEPS WITH OM

OPTIONS / CHOICES DEFINITION

Open existing overloaded assembly in Creo.

Save as Configurable product of the top level assembly.

Copy drawings if applicable.

Step 1 Configurable Product assembly

In the configurable product assembly, transfer Option

components to new configurable module.

This can also be done as save as of the subassembly

that contains Options in the save as dialog box in step1.

References auto-tagged automatically in this step.

Step 2 Configurable Module Assembly

Result of steps 1 & 2 showing configurable product,

configurable module and module variants in the

configurable structure

Configurable Structure

Create Option names and choice names

Step 3 Define Options

1

2

3

4

5

Assign Module Variants to defined Choices by first selecting a module variant and then include / exclude using green/red box

Repeat for all module variants. Remember to remove already assigned module variant from assign choices collector using right click before selecting the next module variant.

Model tree assignments column will display assigned choices for all module variants.

Step 4 Assign Choices

1

2

3

Select Variant builder. Use Option selection.

Select the included module variant under each

configurable module assembly and create Variant asm.

Step 5 Configure Variant Assembly

1

2

3

Overall Process

Variant Assembly Structure

1. CONFIGURABLE STRUCTURE

2. DEFINE OPTIONS / CHOICES

3. CHOICE ASSIGNMENTS TO MODULE VARIANTS

4. CONFIGURE VARIANT ASSEMBLY

Learning Connector

New Getting Started Experience Revamped Help, Google indexed and searchable

on the web

Startup Tutorials shipped with the product

Additional tutorials downloaded through Learning

Exchange

100+ Whats New Videos available on Learning

Exchange

Creo 3.0 Help is finally Helpful !

Helpful Training info can be found where?

http://www.tristar.com/resource-center

Originally broadcast as 30-90minute live webinars

They cover a broad range of topics in depth

Done by Tristar Application Engineers

http://learningexechange.ptc.com

Free videos covering many aspects of PTC software in

easily consumable 2-10minute videos

http://www.ptc.com/products/tutorials/

Most of the content does require a log-in with active

maintenance

http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/relnotes/index.jsp

This Enhancement Details page can help you find whats

new within each version of software quickly and easily

http://www.tristar.com/resources-centerhttp://www.tristar.com/resources-centerhttp://www.tristar.com/resources-centerhttp://www.tristar.com/resources-centerhttp://learningexechange.ptc.com/http://www.ptc.com/products/tutorials/http://www.ptc.com/products/tutorials/http://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/relnotes/index.jsphttp://www.ptc.com/appserver/wcms/relnotes/index.jsp

QUESTIONS ?

THANK YOU !!!

Thiagu Palaniappan

[email protected]

assembly tech

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