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LIGO @ CIT CAD PAGE
C.Torrie - updated August 6th 2008 Recommended
CAD Packages
*** We are lso planning to move to SolidWorks 2009 in January 2009.
Drawing
Requirements
LIGO-E030350-A-D Slides on E030350 DCC Archival Documentation
WEB SITE NEDS UPDATING FROM HERE
ON.
PDMWorks 2007
1. Introduction to PDMWorks
-
Intro to PDMWorks -
link to slides and handouts
PDMWorks standalone client and
access from SolidWorks - via VNC
1 day PDMWorks class PDMWorks product information Very good help files available Including a 45 minute tutorial on PDMWorks that you access from the SolidWorks help files and at Caltech we have the book (and CD) associated with the one day class (bought from vendor for $50) 2. Demo (downloading and uploading) a test assembly using PDMWorks Open SolidWorks and then log into PDMWorks from Tools / PDMWorks Vault computer 131.215.115.22. Contact Calum or Mike Pedraza for name and password Right click in the vault and select Find / Search for D050426 Select assembly D050426 and download it to a local drive Open in SolidWorks or check out, take ownership etc ... Make changes to parts and assembly and save locally Load new version back into the vault (ensure that you release ownership) 3. Using PDMWorks as a
collaboration tool
- 2 hours
Date and time to be determined Suspension
Team Design Guidelines
Calum and MPL have been thinking a lot about how we can minimize the
effort of bringing all the separate sub-components of the C-Ptype ETM
into an Overall assembly. So far this job has been a bit cumbersome due
to the variations in the way files are named or origins (or planes) are
applied wrt the model. Also, we have been looking at ways to help the
design of interfacing subassemblies around existing parts/components -
and have begun to use joined (shrink-wrapped) parts of our assemblies. I have compiled this email to form the basis of some rules that we hope to adopt in the design of the ETM and future designs. I must point out that this email still has a number of questions that need input from everybody so we can choose the best way forward - So please comment back on anything that you would see as being good, bad or ugly! 1. Naming convention From now on we must really stick to the naming convention set down in the Drawing Requirements and Guidelines, LIGO-E030350. We shouldn't be afraid to pick a DCC number almost the moment we start drawing up a new part - even if that part is later discarded or is only conceptual!! e.g. on the vault: D040mmm_ETM_Structure_Mounting_Plate.sldprt (the PDMWorks keeps the revisions) e.g. or when using .step or .pdf via email or on web pages: D040mmm-00_ETM_Structure_Mounting_Plate.step (increasing revisions [-00, -01, -02, etc] every time a part/assembly is emailed. As per the Drawing Requirements Guidelines) 2. Origins, Planes, Axes This topic was discussed between Calum, Tim and MPL recently when we talked of fixing a co-ordinate system for the overall assembly. The idea was that if all sub-assemblies were drawn from the same origin (say the front centre at the test mass) we could very easily bring the sub-assemblies together. However, having played with this in SW we have found that you can not easily (or obviously) mate parts within an assembly at the origin or at some auxiliary origin. It is actually much easier and more sensible to mate around three origin planes (Front, Top, Right). I would suggest that we design from a central axis made up of the two vertical planes (front and right) down the middle of each suspension chain and a horizontal plane through the centre of mass of each sub-assembly. These can subsequently be mated to equivalent planes in the Overall assembly. An example of the planes in a part and an the overall assembly are shown in the jpg's attached.
3. Joined parts To stop PDMWorks vault users having to download numerous individual part files that make up the sub-assemblies any time they need to check how their assembly fits wrt the neighbouring parts, we have been considering the use of 'joined parts' in SolidWorks (I believe that this is like the 'shrink-wrap' function in Pro/E). We're still working through some teething problems and trying to understand how it all works but at the moment it seems like a good idea that minimizes the number of parts to download whilst keeping all of the features up-to-date. 4. (For SW users) How to create a joined part: - In your ASSEMBLY (e.g. D040nnn_ETM_Assembly_Mass_Structure.sldasm) - Go to >Insert>Component>New Part... - Name file as the D040nnn_ETM_Assembly_Mass_Structure.sldprt - Select Plane Top - Deselect sketch tool (which comes up automatically when you open a new part in an assembly) - Go to >Insert>Features>Join... - Select all parts in your assembly (by dragging across the 3D model) - Deselect 'Hide Parts' - Click OK You should now have created a joined part that sits on top of the original assembly. It is best to suppress this in the assembly model so as the mass shows up correctly for the assembly. Now, when the sub-assembly you are working on is uploaded onto the vault, it will be the part file rather than the assembly file that is called in the overall assembly - thus minimizing the overall assembly's size and making it easier for people to download it (less files!). The other great thing is that when any changes are made to your sub-assembly, the part automatically updates meaning that, assuming it's updated to the vault fairly regularly (once a week), people can download a very up-to-date Overall Assembly from the vault. Michael Perreur-Lloyd, 2nd November 2004. Hints
& Tips (Please send e-mails
to ctorrie)
5th Dec 2005 C Torrie At Caltech we now have ANSYS Workbench with 512,000 nodes (University Research). 12th Oct 2005 K. Mailand At Caltech we have a library of books on SolidWorks, FEA, ANSYS, ALGOR and PDMWorks. The PDMWorks book is the one offered at the 2 day class offered by Go Engineer. 17th Sept 2004 C. Torrie When using the vault as a sharing tool. Right click on the view of a drawing on the Vault and select print. (Print Options?) VIEW: -  When Printing select print to 100% and select YES to question on borders. 16th Sept 2004 M. Perreur-Lloyd If you have had problems getting your middle mouse
button/roller
working correctly (zooming, rotating,etc) with SW2004, follow the
following instructions to correct the problem:
Start ->Settings ->Control panel ->Mouse ->Properties ->
Wheel ->Advanced ->add the solidworks.exe to the list of programs
to turn off wheel support.14th Sept 2004 C.Torrie Insert picture to assembly. In an open sketch, click Sketch Picture on the Sketch toolbar, or click Tools, Sketch Tools, Sketch Picture. 18th August 2004 C. Torrie To set Transparency. In Document Properties / Colors / Shading / Advanced / Transparency 2nd August 2004 C. Torrie Mates to move an assembly round a corner. Assem2.zip SolidWorks
Documentation and Tutorials
SolidWorks has a very useful set of on-line tutorials available through the welcome menu. Mike Perreur-Lloyd and I have several LIGO documents which should also help you out in getting started. These documents also reference some very useful and neat tools that we have created to work with SolidWorks. I would also recommend that you consider buying SolidWorks & PDMWorks through Go Engineer. Deanna Chun (818-783-5662) is the sales girl and the support desk are a great help. Although it is always good to buy local! The DCC documents and attached zip files you can get for free! LIGO-D030382 (Introduction) LIGO-D030383 (Toolbox) LIGO-T040143 (SolidWorks Tutorial) The PDMWorks Vault is used as a convenient method of storing and exchanging files. At this point we are still using the DCC for released files. As we discussed here is an example of STEP file in a PDF. http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/docs/D/D020318-A.pdf. (Try loading the attached .step file into SolidWorks) Useful
Links
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