Flat Pattern not displaying correctly

[JD80]

I'm having trouble with sheet metal flat pattern parts not displaying correctly in my drawing sheets.

The Setup:
I've got some parts with a hole pattern controlled by an equation. If I open the drawing first I get a correct formed view but the hole spacing is incorrect on the flat pattern view. If I have the assembly open first and then open the drawing file everything updates fine. However, our CNC programming software is designed to open a part, flatten it, and close all SW files. So the programs are incorrect.

Is there anyway to get solidworks to actually rebuild and save the part files (without opening each one and toggling the flat pattern)?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Which version of SW?

Does your CNC read SW format (.slddrw) files?

SW09 can save DXF/DWG directly from the formed model.

 

[JD80]

SW 2008 SP 5.0

The CNC program opens the part, inserts the 1:1 scale flat on the "drawing" template, then imports that information.

The problem isn't with the CNC program. The flat in SW won't update correctly. If I linked the DXF to the part I would likely never get correct CNC information because the flat is only correct if the assembly is open to drive the information first. The drawing will fail to produce a correct flat pattern when open first.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Sounds like the hole spacing is in-context to the assy. Is that correct?

If yes, does it need to be? Many users break the in-context associations before releasing to production to eliminate this type of problem.

Can the in-contexting be "reversed"? i.e. Make the sheet metal part drive the hole pattern in the other parts.

Are you using the derived config flat pattern created by SW. or a manually created flat pattern config?

 

[JD80]

Sounds like the hole spacing is in-context to the assy. Is that correct? If yes, does it need to be?

Yes that is correct. No, but I'm unsure how to reverse it.

Many users break the in-context associations before releasing to production to eliminate this type of problem.

I tried that and ended up the incorrect size part still.

Can the in-contexting be "reversed"? i.e. Make the sheet metal part drive the hole pattern in the other parts.

Yes, but the overall length of the part is assembly defined, and that won't update correctly.

Are you using the derived config flat pattern created by SW. or a manually created flat pattern config?

I'm using the derived flat pattern.

If I could pass assembly information (dimensions) back to the parts I'd set it up to be part driven. I'm fairly certain that isn't a supported feature.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

If I could pass assembly information (dimensions) back to the parts I'd set it up to be part driven. I'm fairly certain that isn't a supported feature.

Have you tried driving the parts using a layout sketch at the assy level?

 

[JD80]

Right now it's setup where there is a sketch on the assembly level driving part1, part2 is always 2" shorter. part2 has a part level sketch that is 2" offset from the first assembly level drawing. The hole pattern is based on the length of part2.

I've also tried having a sketch on the assembly level that is tied to a "dimensionless" cut on the part. The only relations are the external-coincident relations between circle centerpoints and the assembly level sketch.

How is an assembly level layout sketch different?

 

[JD80]

We upgraded to SW 2009 SP 2.0 and I'm still having this problem.

It's not consistent however. Some people can rebuild and have the parts update correctly while others cannot. I'm still missing the option(s) that cause the assembly to work correctly.

Any suggestions?