Augi World - July/August 2008 - (Page 22) BOM Model Data tab with the parts list, we will find almost no differences. They should be set up the same (or at least the two forms should be set up the same). The Structured tab will also look a lot like the Model Data tab, with the Model Data rows collapsed so they do not show the parts within the sub-assemblies. Again, it will be best if your Structured tab and your Parts List look alike (depending, of course, on your company standards). The benefit to having them set up alike is that, upon opening, you will get a good idea if your parts list is complete before you set it up in your Assembly Drawing. There are a few differences—other than the fact that one is in the Model and one is in the Drawing. For example, the drawing Parts List is only a top-level BOM. You can only see what parts are in the Assembly, not in any sub-assemblies. In the BOM in the Model, on the other hand, you have the tabs for Structured (top level) and Parts Only (parts for sub-assemblies). Another difference with the parts list is that you can edit any of the boxes of data as needed to fine-tune, and those changes will not affect any properties that have been set. If you do any editing within the BOM data boxes, I have noticed that the data within the Properties will update, thus also changing the parts list. Editing the parts list changes only the parts list. agent. Of course, the exportation of the BOM to Excel helps keep the purchasing agent out of the engineering room asking for the ‘latest print’ (and causing disruption!).” Depends upon need, but as you can see, BOM in the drawing model can be a time-saver, and since we all need to be more productive, this is just one small feature that can save considerable time over the course of a year. heading and want to retrieve it, go to the Choose Column icon, then drag and drop to put back that heading. Other icons enable you to sort, add properties, renumber, and use the Engineer’s Note Book. If you open the template file and configure how you want the BOM to look, then do this for each tab and save the template; this preconfigured BOM format will be available to you whenever you start a new Assembly Model. This is also a great time-saver for Parts Lists within the assembly drawing. Quick wrap up: The BOM is a window (dialog box) that opens with your assembly model. You access by clicking on the BOM icon within the Assembly Panel or Tools pull-down and then clicking on BOM. The Parts List is a table that is added to the Assembly drawing. Both the BOM and Parts List are similar, and have similar uses, but BOM is only a temporary window while the Parts List is added to the assembly drawing. You can edit part properties from the assembly BOM, and make sure you have all your “I”s dotted and “T”s crossed before you even get to your Parts List. I will be using the BOM feature much more on upcoming projects. I can review how I need the Parts List to look and be assured knowing that when I place it the first time, the data will all be there. I may have to tweak the Parts List slightly to modify an item or two, but I will have to spend a lot less time manipulating and re-configuring the data. Conclusion Why have both? So why do we have both a BOM for the assembly model and one for the assembly drawing? One of my colleagues, who is an Autodesk Inventor user and instructor, says, “The thing that interests me is the ‘virtual BOM’ in assembly mode so I can see what I have while in the assembly. (It doesn’t require an .idw just to peek at the BOM.) “The other [interesting] features are how you can roll up or expand sub-assemblies and how you can ask for cut lengths of like material or total amount used,” adds my colleague. “Cut list is good for the shop and the total is good for the purchasing BOM in the drawing model can be a timesaver, and since we all need to be more productive, this is just one small feature that can save considerable time over the course of a year. In my case, with custom machine design just this one feature could potentially save a few days over a year. Consider how much time it takes to go back and forth, check your IDW parts list and make sure all the data is right with the model, where you would update all the parts’ properties. The model’s BOM is only temporary and you have to close it to continue. The drawing’s Parts List, once you add it to the drawing, stays until it’s deleted. Configuration tips When you open the BOM for the first time, the headings may not be what you want, and they may not in the order you need. If you don’t want a heading, click and drag off the BOM, and it goes away under that tab only. If you want to move a heading, click and drag that heading where you want it to be in relation to the other headings. To add a heading, click on the icon for Choose Columns, then click and drag it where you want it in relation to the other headings. If you accidently delete a David Keener is a Design Engineer for SMT Industries in Sidney, Ohio, and also an Adjunct Professor at Edison Community College in Piqua, Ohio. He has been using AutoCAD for more than a decade and Autodesk Inventor for more than two years. He can be reached at d_keener@smtind.com. w w w. A U G I . c o m 22 http://www.augi.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.