Positional Assembly Configurations

[r_goulter]

I need to show an assembly if different positional configurations in a drawing.

In the absence of any formal method for doing this I have explored the following 3 options;

1. Adjusting the timeline slider bar to the captured position required for the base view. Doesn't work because all base views want to update to the current slider bar position.

2. Copy components to the multiple positional locations required in the model and then suppress the unrequired component copies in the different drawing base views. Makes for a very messy modelling procedure.

3. Derive separate copies of the assembly for each positional assembly configuration required, and then adjust the assembly positional configuration in each derived copy as required. Main negative is that separate drawings are required for each configuration.

Are there any other options that I have missed? 

[jhackney1972]

You do not show your model or attach it so I am guessing.  Have you considered the Animation environment?  It may be too complex a change but we do not know since we have so little information.

[r_goulter]

Attached is captured image of project that I am currently working on, although this post is not restricted to this particular project.

I need to show on a drawing the dimensioned limits of movement of the counterweight on the right side and the clamps on the left side. I don't need an animation of the actual movement process.

[jhackney1972]

Animations are used a lot of the time to show different positions.  You can capture the position of components in various positions and transfer them to drawing "views" using the storybooks that are created.  Please note I said multiple views.  You cannot superimpose the different storybook views on top of each other but you can dimension two of more views showing the displacements and dimension them to show the difference.

Another idea is this.  Model sketches show as phantom lines in the drawing view.  If you select a "normal" view to your model and in that view create a sketch of the displaced counterweight and clamp, not all of it, just the basic shape so you can recognize it, turn the view on in the drawing, you can dimension to it.  I like this method the best.

[jhackney1972]

I created a very simple assembly to show you both methods I spoke of in my last post.  The Screencast will show what I did.  I will not supply the model as it will be a F3Z file since the drawing has to be included.  I really like the sketch method and please remember, the model sketch can be labeled "for drawing only" and hidden.

[ClintBrown3D]

Hi @r_goulter 

As @jhackney1972 suggests, the animation workspace is a good option, his sketch workaround is very elegant too! But there is also a lot you can do in 2D directly in the drawings workspace. I put together a video for a colleague some months back, which might be useful to you. It goes over the Animations workspace options, as well as using rotated overlay views. What I don't show in my video is that you could hide the visibility of certain components, meaning that your overlay view could be just a subset of the data.

Hope this is useful.

[r_goulter]

Thanks for the suggested solutions to my question.

However I don't see either option as being a viable solution.

The sketch option would be a challenge to create a professional looking result for a complex assembly. Not what my Clients are looking for after having received positional assembly configuration drawings from other Contractors using different software.

And using animation doesn't fare much better with complex assemblies because the Joints don't transfer from the Design Workspace to the Animation Workspace. Therefore need to put a lot of effort into Transforms.

Was really hoping that Autodesk would introduce a proper Positional Assembly Configurations workflow.

[TrippyLighting]

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@r_goulter wrote:

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And using animation doesn't fare much better with complex assemblies because the Joints don't transfer from the Design Workspace to the Animation Workspace. Therefore need to put a lot of effort into Transforms.

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I believe configurations are on the way with 1st rereleases earlyish next year. That might help.

If the joints would transfer into the animation workspace that would also solve the problem.

I stopped trying anything with animations years ago because for anything but the simplest mechanisms or perhaps exploded views of assemblies, it’s of very limited usefulness. The animation workspace hasn’t seen any significant updates in at least 3 years.

[r_goulter]

Thanks for the update on possible release of Configurations.

[ClintBrown3D]

Hi @TrippyLighting 

Just to set expectations correctly, a public facing version of the configurations project is not expected early next year, it is expected much later in the year. I believe that you may have heard about an internal build that will be used by all the teams that need to consume it.

Regarding the animations workspace, and transferable joints, I agree that this would be an excellent enhancement. I've added this thread to the customer request database.

[TrippyLighting]

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@ClintBrown3D wrote:

Hi @TrippyLighting 

Just to set expectations correctly, a public facing version of the configurations project is not expected early next year, it is expected much later in the year.

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Thank you for the clarification!