Welcome to the Onshape forum! Ask questions and join in the discussions about everything Onshape.
First time visiting? Here are some places to start:- Looking for a certain topic? Check out the categories filter or use Search (upper right).
- Need support? Ask a question to our Community Support category.
- Please submit support tickets for bugs but you can request improvements in the Product Feedback category.
- Be respectful, on topic and if you see a problem, Flag it.
If you would like to contact our Community Manager personally, feel free to send a private message or an email.
MCMASTER 2 ONSHAPE
bill_schnoebelen
OS Professional, Developers, User Group Leader, csevp Posts: 126 PRO
I have this app to transfer data between mcmaster and onshape: https://goatheads.circuitcase.com/
It sets everything in my company's properties. Some of these are computed and special to our needs. BOM Example here. Since these are custom, I am not sure how much data makes it through if you link or copy the model?
There is a json tab which should be pretty easy to make a featurescript and format the data as you wish. There is probably too much data there right now.
Please make a copy of any documents you want to use in production for right now! I may may make changes to my data.
Let me know what you think!
It sets everything in my company's properties. Some of these are computed and special to our needs. BOM Example here. Since these are custom, I am not sure how much data makes it through if you link or copy the model?
There is a json tab which should be pretty easy to make a featurescript and format the data as you wish. There is probably too much data there right now.
Please make a copy of any documents you want to use in production for right now! I may may make changes to my data.
Let me know what you think!
3
Comments
How to use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrGIU8tN-Mk
Hi Bill,
I am interested in your post, currently considering OnShape move from Solidworks. The video you share is private, and the link you provided is not active anymore.
Would you be so nice to share those with me?
Thank you!
Hi Nicolas,
MMC killed my API license. I was not supposed to share it.😫
How does the SW MMC add on work? I was never able to get it working. Does it fill out the properties?
Goatheads filled out the properties in a consistant manner. You could then add dynamics and material properties to the model once. You could then reuse it ten years later. Goatheads stick with you!
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/29bbd5b1096edb6fad8e9abd/w/64bc111d4c2366acaa42e66f/e/e6b5d91b0f284c0c1abc0d69
Sadly not surprised; their API docs do say that there are vague limits to "protect our data". Assuming one had their own private API key, is there a repo somewhere that we could run our own instance of Goatheads?
FWIW I think Fusion 360 gets around the API limitation by a technicality: I don't think it actually uses the API at all. The workflow is that you click "Insert McMaster Carr", and it actually opens up a browser window to mcmaster.com. From there you find the part you want, then click "Download 3D file" after selecting a format that Fusion can understand e.g. STEP, then F360 automagically ingests, uploads, and instantiates the object as a solid body. Been a few years since I went through that workflow, but I don't recall it actually filling out any material properties like weight, etc.
I never tried the MMC program for Fusion. I watched some videos on the one for SW and I think it missed the mark. It seems like a convoluted way to purchase MMC parts inside of SW? But I would never do that. I would create a spreadsheet and purchase from that or send on to an MRP.
I can give you the API code, but I think MMC would be leary… Plus I think there is a better way.
There are two things I want from mcmaster:
So….
To get the dumbsolid, you manually download from MMC. This has always been the easy part.
The metadata has been the tough part. But I think I have a solution. To get the metadata, you download the pdf at https://www.mcmaster.com/{anyMMCpartnumber}. The pdf can be used with a program such as pypdf to get the metadata.
So you manually download the model and pdf. Then manually upload them to be processed. It ends up being more clicks, but still lot easier than cutting and pasting all the metadata.
Then you can add mass props and dynamics. If you share this, you end up with a Grabcad model on steroids.
So they make it HARDER for you to use and then, presumably, buy their stuff? Odd.
I would say it is more them protecting their data. They have put a lot of effort in creating the data and protecting it. This has worked well for them. It takes more than just my voice and pocket book for them to change. MMC is a BIG company. There are a lot of interests. I was told you can voice your opinion here: eProcurement@mcmaster.com
Echoing @bill_schnoebelen
As far as I know, the tools on other platforms have been developed by/for McMaster, not the CAD companies. The more users that contact McMaster and request this, the more likely they are to make it happen.