Dummy part assembly label question. Why "2x"??

[RonBuckingham]

Hi everyone,

I made a simple assembly, three plates welded together.  I don't want one part to be the mainpart, so if I understand correctly, you use the "create assembly part" to "make a 'dummy' main part of the assembly".

When you click on that icon, it asks you to "Please identify an object (beam or plate) for main part of the assembly:".   (I thought there wasn't a mainpart anymore??)   I picked the little plate as shown.

So far so good, it numbered correctly, none of the single parts are main parts, it gave the assembly number "P1"

But when I use drawing style manager assemblies (any one of them) to make a detail, the part that I clicked on when making the dummy part is labeled as "2x" even though there is only one of them??

Why does that say "2x" for that part and how can I fix that?

Thanks

Ron

[ChristianBlei]

Hi,

I asume that P1000 is not there twice...

I was just doing some tests with this function (strange that you have to select a part as main part...I guess that is just a wrong prompt) and I realized that the  list in the model browser is not showing the main parts of these structures at all. Only the single parts. Also I do not get a BOM....

Emy, can you look at this?

@Emanuel.Nestor

[RonBuckingham]

Hi Christian,

Thanks for looking at this. No, P1000 is not there twice, its just the three plates. 

I checked my model browser, it seems to be showing the main part for me.

I also put in a BOM (the one called Drawing-structured list.dwg) and that seemed to work ok.  But I did notice the name/decription of the mainpart (dummy part, P1) is the name of that little plate p1000.  That's another question, maybe it relates somehow to the "2x" problem.

thanks

Ron

[Emanuel.Nestor]

Hi @RonBuckingham,

Thank you for posting on Advance Steel forum 🙂

Could you please attach your model and the generated detail drawing, to take a look ?

Regarding selecting an object: the dummy assembly still needs a "driving" object (for internal UCS as example, to define the "Front" view in the detail drawing).

So it is normal to ask for an object when create the assembly (the prompt might be improved though 🙂 )

Best regards,
Emy

[RonBuckingham]

Hi Emy,

Here is the model and detail drawing.

Thank you for taking a look.

Ron

[Emanuel.Nestor · Accepted solution]

Hi @RonBuckingham

Thank you for sending the model and the drawing.

1. Indeed, it is an issue in Advance Steel (AS) 2018 version, that the label shows double quantity for the "driving" element of the dummy assembly.

I have tested the behavior with AS 2019 version and it works correct on my side - only 1 label / 1 element.

Maybe you could consider upgrading to the newer version of AS.

2. The name shown in the title - it is the name of the "driving" element of the dummy assembly. This is how it works at this moment, the dummy assembly takes the name from its driving element; it has no name on its own.

I hope this clarifies the current results that you get.

I would add few remarks, maybe they will help further:

- The drawings you sent is saved with AS 2018 Build 2201. I would highly recommend you to install the Hotfix 2 update for AS 2018. You should find it via Autodesk Desktop App or directly in your Autodesk Account - Products.

- I am not very sure why you want to use the dummy assembly. Personally I found very little benefit (or not at all), while it comes with different kind complications.

Maybe you could analyze the reason(s) or limitations of "normal" assemblies - based on a main part and attached parts - and see how to live with or workaround them. Just a though.

Please let me know if these helps you.

Best regards,

Emy

[RonBuckingham]

Hi Emy,

Thank you for the reply.  I updated to AS 2019 this morning and it fixed it right up. The "2x" no longer appears in the label.  The info about the "driving element" is good to know too.

I will ask about dummy assemblies in a new post and stop this one.  I was surprised about your advice to avoid them:)

Thank you again

Ron

[Masibanda-CE]

@Emanuel.Nestor  Emy, a colleague of mine came across this post while searching for ways to export data into Fabtrol/Tekla EPM. Besides that reason for using an "assembly container", we also have others and have been struggling to keep AS relevant within our workflows because of the difficulties in data handling and transfer. We thought this might have worked for us but again, it falls down right where we need it. Would you mind communicating with me to help us understand the "other complications" you mentioned, the intent of development on this feature, and the future development (if considered)?

Cheers,

Gary

[Emanuel.Nestor]

Hi @Masibanda-CE,

Thank you for your questions.

I will try to answer briefly with what I know (to not "hijack" the original topic of the thread 🙂 )

The "assembly container" was implemented more than 15 years ago, as an alternative way for assemblies. At that time it was useful (for drawing styles and details, BOMs). 

Meanwhile, Advance Steel evolved quite a lot. Personally I do not see many benefits of using it; I did not encounter many scenarios when I was forced to use it, as the only way to achieve a specific result.

However, it might be relevant (or easier) for some workflows and users. 

Hope it helps 🙂

Emy

[Sebastian_Eiche]

I thought the dummy assembly is needed for the Qomet Export to have the correct naming in the Qomet BOM Export list or not?

[Emanuel.Nestor]

Hi @Sebastian_Eiche 

If you are asking about https://www.kometmetall.de/ --> I cannot answer.

I believe Qomet is specific to German market, right ?

Emy

[Sebastian_Eiche]

Yes, it's used on german market. And I thought the command "Create Assembly Part" was created for this software, but I could be wrong.

I always hope this is maybe used for having a third instance for drawing styles 😃

[Sebastian_Eiche]

I was wrong, had a call with a collegue...it's monday- forgot my answers. It's nothing about Qomet