Mass Exporting Step and Drawing Files

michael_bromley

I have not done any work with featurescripts yet, but I'm hoping to explore this as an option.  I'm mainly looking for feedback on whether or not what I am after is possible through feature scripts.

Outsourcing fabrication work requires that we export a step file and a pdf drawing for each part to be made.  Currently this requires me to dig through the document, locate each part, export and save as the part number + revision and then rinse/repeat with the drawings.  As you can imagine this is a cumbersome and lengthy process.

Would it be possible to write a feature script to automate this process?  Essentially I need a way to select a bunch of parts and drawings and then export in some standardized naming convention that is a derivative of the part number and revision.

owen_sparks

Sorry, no.  FS will only build features within a partstudio. It's deliberately restricted to what it has access to.   You may be able to do something via an API but that's a tad more more complicated.

Cheers,

Owen S.

michael_bromley

owen_sparks said:

Sorry, no.  FS will only build features within a partstudio. It's deliberately restricted to what it has access to.   You may be able to do something via an API but that's a tad more more complicated.

Cheers,

Owen S.

Okay thats unfortunate, but what I thought may be the case.  Thank you for the quick reply.  I guess off to the enhancements then as I have to assume other people struggle with this as well.

MBartlett21

I may be able to do something with the API.

I currently have a Bubble app that exports all drawings in the document

michael_bromley

MBartlett21 said:

I may be able to do something with the API.

I currently have a Bubble app that exports all drawings in the document

That sounds awesome!  I've added a custom property for manufacturing method and in my dream world I would export a step file and pdf of the drawings for all parts/assemblies contained in a release package that are marked with a certain manufacturing method. 

Raphael_Massicotte

michael_bromley said:

That sounds awesome!  I've added a custom property for manufacturing method and in my dream world I would export a step file and pdf of the drawings for all parts/assemblies contained in a release package that are marked with a certain manufacturing method. 

I am in the exact same situation as you are I hope someone or Onshape could implement such a thing. 

Ivan_Deetlefs

Raphael_Massicotte said:

michael_bromley said:

That sounds awesome!  I've added a custom property for manufacturing method and in my dream world I would export a step file and pdf of the drawings for all parts/assemblies contained in a release package that are marked with a certain manufacturing method. 

I am in the exact same situation as you are I hope someone or Onshape could implement such a thing. 

Me too. I currently have a 100+ part assembly of which I need to export all the drawings and STEP files. You can imagine how long this will take.

michael_bromley

Yikes thats a days worth of work unfortunately.

brucebartlett

I was just coming to write a post about printing drawings, this post is not far from what I was coming to discuss so I'll post here. I have a customer who likes to print and check all his drawings. What I want is an easy way to select all the drawings from the tab manager/or doc, then I can print in one step and hand them to him.

@MBartlett21 do you have more info on your app?

MBartlett21

@brucebartlett
My app was working until a few releases ago, when it stopped exporting drawings

brucebartlett

MBartlett21 said:

@brucebartlett
My app was working until a few releases ago, when it stopped exporting drawings

Ahhh.. I was really hopefully. I spend so much time on these processes at the end of a project. Looking forward very much to improvements here. 

rob_rowland

Chiming in here:    I also have this problem.    I need to export hundreds of laser cut part parts for manufacturing in STEP and DXF files.   Each file name requires part number and revision.   The Onshape default of "part name" is completely and utterly useless to me, and seems like a glaring oversight.   
There needs to be a way to change the default export naming to PART#_REVISION_DESCRIPTION or similar.   
Batch exporting is also desperately needed.   I'm literally spending multiple full days just exporting drawings.  

Jake_Rosenfeld

@rob_rowland

For batch export with specific naming, I would recommend our API for the time being. 

We do have significant request volme for both of the requests you are making.  Please add your vote as well:
Here is an IR for batch export:
https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/6947/batch-export-files

Here is an IR for changing the default name of an exported file:
https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/4753/export-parts-with-pn-and-revision-number-included-in-the-file-name/p1

brucebartlett

Jake_Rosenfeld said:

@rob_rowland

For batch export with specific naming, I would recommend our API for the time being. 

We do have significant request volme for both of the requests you are making.  Please add your vote as well:
Here is an IR for batch export:
https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/6947/batch-export-files

Here is an IR for changing the default name of an exported file:
https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/4753/export-parts-with-pn-and-revision-number-included-in-the-file-name/p1

I really need something here Jake.  Just looking at another pile of drawing I going to have to spend a few hrs export to pdf.  A job that should take 5-10 minutes seems to take 2 hrs with Onshape. Why can't we group select and export from the tab manager?    

michael_bromley

Seems we need to push the improvement request up the chain with more votes.  I have to imagine that every professional user has encountered this at one time or another.  Interaction with third parties typically requires an export, unfortunately that is the world we live in currently.

rob_rowland

@Jake_Rosenfeld   Thanks.   I've upvoted both of the IR's you listed.     

ethan_post

I had a potential client get in touch with me about solving a problem that sounds fairly similar to this one but they have not followed up. I am interested in the problem and I have poked around the API a bit. I am considering working on it but would like to make sure it is worth the time and better understand the most common needs/requirements. If anyone wants to talk ping me here or look my up on Linked In. Thanks! 

BMcGaffey

We are currently using an app called CadLink here to do mass export to our ERP. All step files and drawings belonging to a given assembly or part studio. It was built by a company called QBuild (next-door to us). I basically just copy and paste the assembly URL into a window and it brings up the BOM where I can select exactly what I want to export. It then runs through, grabs all the drawings and step files for all the parts in the assembly, gives the parts part numbers, uploads it all to our ERP, then updates the properties in Onshape. We don't use the Onshape part numbers so we link description and our own part number property. Its working well so far, haven't had any issues. It is a separate desktop app at the moment, but I believe the plan is to have it integrated into the Onshape environment.