Do you know of any software (easy to use if possible) that allows you to scale a part list in an automated way and capable of taking into account various imposed parameters please?
Let me explain, when I design a product, it is of medium size. But we are launching this product into production on various scales. Currently, we scale each part one by one (in 2D) before sending it to cutting. In short, it's tedious. In addition, it does not allow for the consideration of certain parameters that do not depend directly on the scale. For example, the thickness of certain parts will impact the design of some other parts.
If you have any ideas, I would be happy to discuss them with you.
What is your current (software) process? It is possible to do something with SolidWorks but it is not on the corner of the table that it will be done according to your experience with parametric 3D and your design/method/manufacturing process, as well as the budget you want to allocate to this operation. Don't forget that this budget includes the software (how many workstations?) but also the training, the time spent doing a possible migration, a possible overlap with your current software.
I use Solidworks to make the starting drawings, but for one size only.
Then, the production manager scales according to the orders using the software provided to manage the plasma ban for cutting. This software, Omniwind (Messer company), only allows you to scale and retouch, room by room. Which is far from ideal.
For the scaling, we would need a simple software, working in 2D, and capable of directly providing a batch of DXF drawings from the parameters entered (size/scale, thickness of sheet metal desired, diameter of the holes, etc.).
It's quite simple to take your part, everything of which must be quoted from a single reference.
The easiest way is to start from the origin point or from a coordinate system (see this feature)
You make your first piece (toto scale 1) . Then you create a copy of your piece "Titi echelle 1.5"
Once your master part is created: you do ==>Insert==> Functions==> Scale then you put your ratio 1.5, you validate and that's it.
This is if the scale factor is the same in all directions. Otherwise you have to indicate the scale factor according to X according to Y according to Z This is the case if the size changes but not the thickness of the sheet metal for example.
We also use Solidworks as well as Omniwin. I advise you to use Omniwin only to make the nests in the sheets. It's much easier to change dimensions (or even scales) on solidworks with equations. You make a general file for your parts that you configure as you wish and when you have an order, you enter the parameters of the order and everything adjusts according to your needs. Then you can export all the .dxf of the assembly in one manipulation using a macro or the "Integration" or "SheetMetalManufacturing" tool that are in the MyCADtools module.
Thank you for your answer, but it is not adapted to our situation. The question is not to scale a part, but to find a method of automated parametric scaling of a set of parts.
@Gauthik
Your proposal seems promising to me. I'm going to look into this at first, even if I don't despair of finding a solution with a lighter and 2D software that can easily be used by someone who has done very little CAD.
Since you already have SW, it's a shame not to take advantage of it to do your "scaling". There are plenty of features that allow you to get the result you're looking for.
An add-on module like Driveworks allows you to generate parameterized models by filling in a form and can be used without being trained in 3D.
I agree, but the problem is that the person who is in charge of doing the scaling is not trained in solidworks type software at all.
You should know that we make several products per day, but no two are the same. The products are customized according to the customer (size, weight, sheet thickness, ...).
Given the number of scaling operations that need to be done, we are looking for a solution that is quick and easy to use.
I agree but normally it's not up to the person working on the machine to make the files. With us, everything is done at the design office via Solidworks and the configurations, then the programmer calls the parts to make the program and the operator calls the program on the machine. We have the possibility to draw on the machine for the realization of simple and or urgent parts...
Thank you for your answer. Do you know if Driveworks can work autonomously, i.e. on a workstation on which there is no Solidworks? Or is it a module that only works from SW?
@fcharrayre: We do not use Driveworks. I just have a customer who asked us to model a file with a view to use with Driveworks by the sales team. So I guess it must work independently of SW. It's a special license.
So if I understand correctly, I can use the "Scale" module from the ToolsXperts suite of tools to generate all of my scaling. Then I can use DriveWorks to generate my custom ribbed drawings. However, this means redoing the DriveWorks assembly for each scale.
If this solution may suit us in the very short term, it remains complicated because I don't have the impression that Driveworks does the scaling, and is not optimal.
Maybe a script with draftsigth is possible to automate these tasks with an array for input values!