Setting up Models for Automation
Certain types of models are better suited to design automation than
others. When setting up models for automation, consider how they fit into
an assembly and how the parts might change when automated.
Example 1
This illustration shows a simple support that uses planes.
Several planes have been created so that the sketches and features can
be referenced to them (coincident, up to surface, etc.) This allows the
dimension for the plane to be changed and the extrusion extended with
it. When placed in an assembly, other components can be mated to this
plane so that they move with consideration to the parts altered.
Using a coincident mate with the face could cause problems with more
complex parts.
Example 2
This fitting also uses planes. If DriveWorksXpress is suppressing or
unsuppressing the flange feature, the face of the flange face used in
the mate would no longer be there.
Planes have little effect on the part or assembly file size but do increase
the stability of the part during part configuration. Stability becomes
increasingly important as part complexity increases. This principle also
applies to axes, although not ‘temporary axes’, which disappear if the
geometry disappears.