“In this example we’ll look at how Solid Edge handles large assemblies.”
“One of the biggest issues when working on large assemblies is how much time it takes
to open and load all of the parts.
Solid Edge accommodates for this by giving the user full control of exactly how a large
assembly is opened using a variety of different tools.
Tools such as “Assembly Open As” is one way in which users control how they optimize
time to open, providing options to define the size of an assembly as well as the state
of the parts when loaded.
These options are fully customizable and lead to improved performance when working on assemblies
of all sizes.”
“Additionally, Solid Edge offers another great usability tool in a “Top Level Assembly”
filter that filters out all lower level assemblies and parts, greatly reducing the amount of
time necessary to find the top level, especially when being viewed alongside other parts and
subassemblies.”
“The assembly we’re working in today is from a Solid Edge customer, Donido.
This cheese factory is one of their large factory layouts, containing just under 13000
parts with over 1700 subassemblies – all together over 700 mb of data.
The computer we’re working with is a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet device – not a CAD
specific workstation.
We’ve optimized Solid Edge for opening large assemblies, and notice how quickly we’re
able to get into our assembly and immediately begin work.
No matter what system specifications or the size of assembly that you’re working with,
Solid Edge provides the tools to utilize computer resources in the most efficient way!”
“Of course, once the assembly is open, another very important aspect is working performance
once it’s on the screen.
Solid Edge offers a great selection tool that allows us to select any parts based on their
size in comparison to the rest of the assembly.
The “Select Parts by size” command is a great way to select small parts, such as
nuts and bolts, and then hide them all in one action.
Once we’ve hidden the parts we don’t want showing, unloading them from the assembly
is a simple process that frees up more system resources for the tasks at hand!”
“Of course in large assemblies, it’s important to be able to work on the data specific to
the task, and to help us focus on the shop floor machines, we’ll simply use a display
configuration, or a preset grouping of parts, to show only those important to us.”
“Notice that many of the components on our machines seem very simple with little detail.
That’s because these machines have been simplified to cut out unnecessary details
that leads to increased performance.
Opening assemblies in their simplified state can reduce the opening time of large assemblies
as much as 75%!
Of course, as always, Solid Edge gives users full control over which assemblies they want
shown simplified, and which they want shown in detail.”
“So let’s take a look at how simplified assemblies are created.
Solid Edge provides users with a full set of modeling tools so once you begin the simplification
process, as many or few details as desired can be included in the resulting simplified
assembly.
One of the most efficient tools for creating a simplified assembly is the “Enclosure”
command, allowing users to simply click the parts that make up the boundaries and define
a simple shape to represent it.
If we need to preserve specific geometry of the assembly, we can easily do so.
Here, we need to keep the feet for placement purposes, but rather than simplify each one
individually, we’ll use the “duplicate component” command to quickly place the
simplified versions of the feet all in one action.”
“In addition to the display configurations to turn on and off specific assemblies and
parts, Solid Edge also provides zones, a tool that shows all components that lie within
a defined area.
Zones are also fully customizable, allowing for dynamic size changes to show whatever
components you want within the desired working area.
In addition to working in zones once an assembly is open, the Solid Edge open dialog also allows
users to select a specific zone when opening the assembly for the first time, making sure
that only the components necessary for the work task are loaded.
Of course, the less parts in a zone, the faster the open time.”
“Another great time saver when working in large assemblies is the intelligence that
Solid Edge brings when placing new parts into an assembly.
Notice that when we bring in the new machine, Solid Edge automatically recognizes that there
is a simplified version and uses the simplified geometry to optimize performance.
Once fully placed, we can easily turn on the designed version of the assembly to see the
full details.”
“Our next design task has us making some changes to the packaging equipment on the
factory floor.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to search and isolate all of the parts with
specific properties associated to them?
Well, luckily for us, Solid Edge has a Query tool that allows us to do advanced searches
on any property within our assembly files.
For this query, we’ll simply search on “packaging”.
Using our query quickly provides focus on the parts we need.”
“For our design task, we need to increase the number of packaging machines to 4.
Solid Edge offers unique capability in assemblies to create exact copies of existing data.
Here, we can simply select the machine to copy, click copy or hold the control key,
similar to copying in Microsoft office products, and drag it to the new location.
When making copies of components, the copies originate from the location of the steering
wheel, allowing for precision on placement with keyed in offset values, or even snapping
to keypoints of other components.”
“Several additional tools also exist in Solid Edge that help increase performance
when working with colleagues in the same assembly.
The first is called limited update.
Limited update allows users to both limit which parts are loaded when opening, as well
as updated when working in a specific area of an assembly.
This allows system resources to be directed to the areas of the assembly pertinent to
the design task.
Additionally, the component tracker tool is used to track the assembly and provide a full
readout of the statuses of all the parts, ensuring designers have the most current data
when limited update is turned on.
And of course, once done in 3D, Solid Edge provides great tools to be able to create
drawings of the assemblies.
With options to bring in individual subassemblies only, or to creating drawing views of parts
contained only in the display configurations or zones we looked at earlier, no extra work
is required to display exactly what is needed.
Combine that with Solid Edge’s ability to leverage multi-core processors when placing
drawing views, and Solid Edge proves why it’s the king of drawings.
Solid Edge provides you with all the tools you need to work more efficiently in assemblies,
whether 13000 parts, or even 2.5 million.
Solid Edge.
Design better.”