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Workflow for creating drawings like images
3dcad
Member, OS Professional, Mentor Posts: 2,470 PRO
I decided to use Onshape to work despite of the fact that it lacks some signifigant features. I needed to print manufacturing drawings with dimensions and details of 10 simple models. I'm running windows 8.1 at work.
First I wen't through the sketches which had the needed dimensions for prints, hit n for normal view and move important dimension in nice position. I also moved unwanted dimension outside the print area.
Then I used 'Show dimensions' for certain sketch and position model as big as possible in the screen. I tried 'Hidden edges removed' view, but as my part color was white; shaded view gave better result.
I begun screenshoting with windows snipping tool, but it's not the best so I searched better tool: Lightshot . It gives possibility to quickly add text, lines, arrows, highlights or remove un-necessary lines to screenshots and you can move/resize selection perfectly before applying. It also works very fast and can be woke up with PrintScreen -button. I used save to file, but often use save to clipboard for emails or so.
I took also images of 3d view to better explain the machinist what he's doing.
I ended up with a bunch of pngs with headers in image and informative filenames. Then I used windows built-in image printing, some images 1 per page and the ones with details I used predefined options to have multiple images resized to fit page.
Results were very good, time spent probably less than with actual drawings (I didn't have to add any dimensions since they are all there), prints are nice and clear. The only problem is that if model is changed, static images are useless.
But I actually made some real work with Onshape without importing or exporting anything!!! Next week I'll see if it's going to be profitable.
Can't post images because of IP, sorry.
I surely hope that Named views will develop in the direction that they could be used like an active screenshot that could be just printed again if model is changed. And if named views would have URL of their own, I could just skip the printing and production would use the up-to-date image/drawing directly from web. Tickets are in, feel free to 'add your vote' if you have similar needs.
First I wen't through the sketches which had the needed dimensions for prints, hit n for normal view and move important dimension in nice position. I also moved unwanted dimension outside the print area.
Then I used 'Show dimensions' for certain sketch and position model as big as possible in the screen. I tried 'Hidden edges removed' view, but as my part color was white; shaded view gave better result.
I begun screenshoting with windows snipping tool, but it's not the best so I searched better tool: Lightshot . It gives possibility to quickly add text, lines, arrows, highlights or remove un-necessary lines to screenshots and you can move/resize selection perfectly before applying. It also works very fast and can be woke up with PrintScreen -button. I used save to file, but often use save to clipboard for emails or so.
I took also images of 3d view to better explain the machinist what he's doing.
I ended up with a bunch of pngs with headers in image and informative filenames. Then I used windows built-in image printing, some images 1 per page and the ones with details I used predefined options to have multiple images resized to fit page.
Results were very good, time spent probably less than with actual drawings (I didn't have to add any dimensions since they are all there), prints are nice and clear. The only problem is that if model is changed, static images are useless.
But I actually made some real work with Onshape without importing or exporting anything!!! Next week I'll see if it's going to be profitable.
Can't post images because of IP, sorry.
I surely hope that Named views will develop in the direction that they could be used like an active screenshot that could be just printed again if model is changed. And if named views would have URL of their own, I could just skip the printing and production would use the up-to-date image/drawing directly from web. Tickets are in, feel free to 'add your vote' if you have similar needs.
//rami
0
Comments
I need to do more testing what to download into tabs and what stays in ERP, dropbox, emails or google sheets, each product has a lot of strings attached; price calculations, production data, product data, marketing data, webdata, agreements etc. and I'm the only one who has access to everything.
In perfect world I would have only ERP and Onshape seamlessly integrated.. Currently cad systems are pretty much stand-alone systems and integrate poorly into any management software. I'm sure Onshape will 'fix' this issue too to get rid of the pdfs linked into ERP software..
This is where I want to be too.
@3dcad what ERP are you using?
Twitter: @onshapetricks & @babart1977
O man... the things that could be done and the time that could be saved.
Twitter: @onshapetricks & @babart1977
Open source projects are a mess and there is a big gap between $50 - $10 000 invoicing software, $50 000 MRPs and $500 000+ ERPs.
This has lead to situation where even big companies hang on to ancient software since the price tag for new ERP, installed, commissioned, trained and fully working is just enormous..
My 'ERP' is probably a lot smaller than actual giant ERPs but I don't know better term for it since it has parts for sales&invoicing, clients, employees, products, purchase, warehouse, production with every step recording and a lot of specific stuff like machinery maintenance and such. Accounting I wanted to leave outside since it has a lot of legal stuff involved.
I have only coded the things I need. But I think that is the key to simple UI, I don't have to mind about stuff we don't need.
I spent most of my free time for 3 years before 'launch' in my company and used a lot of time in the beginning to fix all the annoying things. Currently it's been in everyday use for 2,5 years without any major problems. I think I made good decision taking time to learn some coding & sql since it's invaluable for small company to efficiently adapt into (bigger) customers needs. And being efficient usually begins from software.
What are the main ERPs in other regions? In Finland it's pretty much SAP or MS AX (only biggest companies use ERP)
In my day job I struggle with syspro. (would not recommend it), was much better when we had Max Extract but no support so was dumped and we were inflicted with painful process of change to a new system with little benefits. Problem is with ERP it not just the engineers making the decisions.
Twitter: @onshapetricks & @babart1977
If I would need to purchase ERP I would probably go with Aava software - their system looks very interesting but I'm still a bit skeptic about promises like 'Bends to any and all of the needs of your business.' Unfortunately, their price class is currently too high for me (50 000€ -->).
Can't wait to be able to actually replace the photographing with perfect renders..
Now I'm facing a bigger challenge though, I would need to create assembly instructions with Onshape..