Two alternative working methods compared (benefits and limitations) for prototype development through to production documentation. Internal Components vs External Referenced Components and their associated Drawing Sheets in assemblies.
Here are the key features and benefits of the DesignSpark Mechanical Drawing Add-on:Ĭustom Formatted Drawing Sheets with user set custom document properties, assisting drawing creation, and model document - sheet associations. Dimensions, tolerances and GD&T symbols all require understanding and application principles. The way a drawing is set out and depicted with defining symbols isn't part of this article. Also, drawings with separate ( scalable / detail / broken ) aspect views, may better emphasise to the viewer, particular individual or related requirements in preference to an on-screen 3D part / assembly model. Fibre direction / areas of hardness or softness / plating / post plating machining /sand ~ vapour blasting /painting areas, in-process part dimensions, inspection set-up datum targets are a few common aspects of mechanical part manufacturing information that can be easily defined or referenced in a drawing with notes and additional dimensions for explicit communication. Information such as specific part material characteristics e.g. Drawings contain additional information beyond the part form.ĢD drawings can in addition to the above, define all supplementary manufacturing information needed to manufacture the part. It is envisaged that a part drawing (paper or image) supplied with a 3D model (STEP file) will be common practice for the foreseeable future. It should be noted that small manufacturing companies may not have the technical skill nor the technology to exploit MBD data, therefore the traditional 2D dimensional and noted drawing with GD&T definition is still necessary to fully define the component. Multi-national and major manufacturing organisations have very efficient 'data' information paths - MBD data minimises product definition time thus shortening time to production. Semantic encoding guides the correct symbol formulation which assists in understanding GD&T underlying theory and principles.ĭrawing annotations can be set to default ASME, ISO, JIS and GB standard styles.
3D models having Geometrical Dimensions and Tolerancing (GD&T) with Process Manufacturing Information (PMI) applied directly to it as a way of imparting information to reduce / negate the requirement for 2D drawings.ĭesignSpark Mechanical provides both traditional 2D drawings, annotating with GD&T symbols (annotation and encoded sematic types) and 3D MBD based on the American standard ASME Y14.5 (2009) and Y14.41 with symbol encoding semantic creation methods. The latest offering in Mechanical CAD is Model Based Definition (MBD). An intentioned imprecise, wide tolerance and lowest cost part, requires similar specifying as a precise, narrow tolerance and high-cost part. To define a part, dimensions (features of size) and notes are combined with Geometrical Dimensions and Tolerancing (GDT), which in totality quantify permitted errors of inaccuracy in manufacturing, thus producing an economical part meeting design criteria.ĭimensioning and applying GD&T is the mechanical universal language understood by specifiers and manufacturing engineers. Preface:ĢD drawings have been the backbone of communication ever since an idea needed to be saved - it goes back a very long way.
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This series of articles describe the capabilities of the DesignSpark Mechanical Drawing Add-on, which is available to buy on RS-Online either as a single product or as a bundle.ĭesignSpark Mechanical Drawing Add-on (852-3015)ĭesignSpark Exchange and Drawing Add-On Bundle (852-3019)