Placing Parts in Assembly using Reference Planes

[wizit]

Hello everybody.
I'm using V14 on a P3-933, 256mb RAM, Matrox G450 (updated drivers), NT4 SP6. (not the best but it functions). I can't seem to use the reference planes to align parts. I never had this issue with V12. Aligning faces works fine But it's a pain to calculate a difference in width of symmetrical parts and use a offset from an end face. Occasionally I can create a coincidental plane in both parts for center alignment, but this doesn't always work.

 

[fwc]

When editing the relationships, click the ‘construction display’ icon on the ribbon bar, a drop down list of icons will appear. You can choose to display the reference plane from the drop down list.

 

[wizit]

Thanks for the response. I don't have any problem displaying any of the elements (planes, sketches, axis', constructions, etc). I can select anything but the planes for positioning. I'm wondering if there's something new in V14 that I'm missing, or if it's a hardware compatability issue. I never had any issues with V12.

 

[swertel]

Check a little further to the right in the Ribbon bar when applying assembly contraints for the icon that looks like the properties/parameters icon (piece of paper with a list of items on it -- my best description). Click on that and make sure "reduced steps" is NOT checked.

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[wizit]

Thank's Scott
Tried all options and combinations but no luck.

 

[wizit]

Hi again,
It took awhile and a stab in the dark but I seem to have answered my own question.
I've found that if I open the .par for editing from the .asm environment, display the planes, then return to .asm, then again display the planes using fwc's suggestion, that the planes can be selected for positioning.
Thanks again for all the suggestions.

 

[tchrisjones]

Hi,

I was reading your thread and I'm having the same issue at the place I'm currently working. When I assemble parts, I have to save the part file with the reference planes displayed if I want to use them to constrain the part in the assembly. Here's the kicker, the last place I worked this was not the case. The reference planes could be picked in the assembly environment regardless of the display status in the part. We use SE v14 both here and at the previous company. My point is, there must a setting somewhere to enable and disable this function. It's quite maddening to have to work around it though isn't it?

 

[swertel]

Right click on the part in the assembly path finder and uncheck "Display as last saved" or something like that. I think it is under the "Show Reference Geometry" heading in the pop-up menu.

--Scott

For some pleasure reading, try FAQ731-376

 

[fwc]

Hi
I'm having the same issue here (didn’t realize it until reading your latest thread) and for my case, the reference plane will not display. (For the visible but non-selectable reference planes, they could belong to other parts.) However, I couldn't remember clearly when I hid the reference planes. The only thing I could think of is that I often use the 'hide all reference plane' in which I could have hide the planes unintentionally.

 

[wizit]

You have to be a little twisted to do this work and I've been concerned about slipping over the edge, but I'm relieved to hear that others experienced the same .par placing issue. I'm still looking for that option of saving the .par without displaying the planes, and retaining the option of placing a .par using the planes.
Thanks again for the responses.
-Bill