First of all I apologize if I have discussed this topic before. I tried doing a search on this but couldn't find how I could view all my discussions.
I do not like how difficult it is to take model changes through new modifications; the struggle is with the naming.
I componentize my models. The 1st model is the basic shape. The 2nd model adds flash at the parting line. The 3rd model places gutter depth beyond the flash width. The 4th model assembles all of this in a die. I have to put several componentized model sets into the final die.
The changes themselves I would consider as going through this process very easily (most of the time).
The struggle is the fact that each of these models needs name changing to identify the new revision number.
To discover how to even make this go through was a struggle in itself, but now I at least have a method that will update component by component. This process takes hours.
I'll lay out the left and right jobs that I just did to illustrate the mounting frustration I have with this process. You don't have to wade through the next 44 steps but it shows the pattern I have to follow so the change properly filters through all of the components.
1) Change base model of 1st stage
2) Bring base model into flash model
3) Go back and change base models name and make sure new name loads into flash model
4) Go into gutter model and bring in flash model change.
5) Go back to flash model, change it's name and make sure new name loads into the gutter model
6) Bring gutter model into pro-mold die as bottom and top impression.
7) Change name of gutter model and make sure it comes into die.
8) Open up and change name of top and bottom impression reference models.
9-16) Repeat this process for 2nd stage
17-24) Repeat this process for last stage
25) Change name of die and anything within die that includes the new change number
26) Go to opposite hand 1st stage gutter model and review the number that the model wants to import.
27) Change name of the previously changed gutter model to line up with what the opposite hand gutter model wants to see (name prior to change)
28) Bring the 1st stage gutter into the opposite hand gutter model
29) Bring the 1st stage gutter of the opposite hand into the die
30) Go back the 1st stage opposite hand gutter model and modify it's name to the new revision and make sure this number loads into the die in pro-mold
31-35) Repeat same process for the opposite hand of the 2nd stage
36-40) Repeat same process for the opposite hand of the 3rd stage
41) Change name of die and anything within die that includes the new change number of the opposite hand die.
42-44) Change back the name of all the original gutter model files to reflect the true release number.
This is time consuming and breeds opportunities for missing something and making mistakes.
The same process with our other CAD system is much simpler.
1) Change base model of 1st stage and save it
2) Bring this into flash model and save it
3) Bring this into gutter model and save it
4) Bring this into die and save it
5-8) Repeat this process for 2nd stage
9-12) Repeat this process for 3rd stage
13) Go to opposite hand base model 1st stage and bring in base part originally modified and save it
14) Bring this into die and save it
15-16) Repeat that process for 2nd stage
17-18) Repeat that process for 3rd stage
Not being able to replace out names of inserted components causes huge headaches.
I have a couple questions;
1) I have to be able to verify that my model changes have been brought all the way through; is there a simpler way to guarantee this?
2) How many out there struggle with this same issue?
Make it easier to replace out imported merge/inheritance models