Hi Everybody,
Just wondering if anyone has got any ideas how to develop a simple system to generate a cost of a designed tool.
Taking into account the amount of material used etc
I haven't really got a clue were to start any ideas would be helpful
Thanks
Chris Rodway
Design Engineer
Sheffield, UK
Hi Chris.
I have a method that I use for sheet metal parts as that is mostly what I do. It's a macro that is linked to an external CSV file. The CSV file is populated with materials, thickness, $/kg, $ per bend, $ per perimeter (both internals and external) and other costs.
The macro is run on the finished part and many calculations are done to extract the rectangular part size (extents) and converted to m2 value. Then the actual part m2 vlaue is deducted to get the 'waste' value. The number of bends are calculated and a cost is generated. And so on and so forth.
At the end of the macro it add/updates the iProperty 'Cost'. With quite a bit of tinkering I have gotten it really close to the $50k nesting come quoting software we have just installed.
So that works for sheet metal parts and I have plans to do the same (or similar) to other parts and assemblies. When I say 'assembnly' I'm actually refering to an assembly where I put a Content Centre member (say a piece of shaft), then I create extrusions/revolutions to represent machining (imagine a lathe). This gives me the mass of the placed CC member and the mass of the 'machined' part. Some calculations are done based on kg of metal removal and handling time and such and a cost is generated.
Perfect, NO. Useful, YES. I can't share it with you though. It was supplied to me from another person. But I hope it gives you a heads up. I imagine that a lot of the macro (or maybe all?) of it could be done with some iLogic.
Hope this helps.
Thanks For the reply,
I have limited macro programing experince but thanks for the ideas.
Ill give it a try
Thanks
Chris Rodway
Design Engineer
Sheffield, UK
I think it's better to use an ERP software. There is free one, like OpenERP.
Let the ERP software read in the Inventor BOM and then do the cost estimation.
BLHDrafting, interesting replay. Im working on creating a macro that would take in consideration not only the cost but also the material waste. I would love for you to hare the macro you were talking about.
Thank you!
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If you want someone attention please use @<and their name> something like this @BLHDrafting
Update: My opinion... Inventor is not a resource planning (ERP) software.. Its an Engineering/design (CAD) software... So stop using it like an ERP system
Mark Lancaster
& Autodesk Services MarketPlace Provider
Autodesk Inventor Certified Professional & not an Autodesk Employee
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