Revision Table

In this post I will share what is the best method to increase the revision number on the drawing. While this can be done in several ways there are a couple of things to consider, like choosing the scope of the revision and the revision table type (single/multiple entries).

First let’s identify the different types of revisions. When you place a revision table on a drawing you will be asked if the scope of the table will be Entire Drawing or Active Sheet.

Revision Scope

If you choose Entire Drawing then all sheets will have same revision number linked to the drawing iproperties.

TIP: In the Revision Table placing window make sure that “Update Property on Revision Number Edit” is ticked.

Choosing Active Sheet will mean that each sheet will have individual revision number controlled from the sheet properties.

Sheet Revision

You might ask yourself why would one need to control revision for each sheet? It’s all to do with internal specification, document controlling and validation. Some clients have one drawing number for all sheets and some have a separate drawing number for each sheet. Think of them as separate documents each with its own part number and revision/issue number. In some industries each document needs to be tracked, linked and controlled.

TIP: Remember to change your titleblock to indicate sheet revision rather than drawing revision.

 

Titleblock Revision info

Multiple entries Revision Table:

If the company standard is to show all or predefined number of entries in the revision table (like showing last 5 changes) then know this:

                The correct way to change revision is by choosing Add Revision Row on the contextual menu when you right click the revision table but you can also do this while editing the revision table. This will update revision on the sheet or iproperties as well which in fact will update the titleblock.

Correct way to add revision

                Do not choose add row because that will not update drawing/sheet properties or the title block. The number/letter you add with the add row will not be considered as a revision number and next time you choose Add Revision Row the numbering will increment but it will ignore your manually added row value.

                Do not change iproperties manually because, even though it will update title block, this will mess up the revision table. Changing the revision number in iproperties will not increase by adding new row and it’s same as if you edit the table and change the number manually.

Single entry Revision table:

If you company standard is to show only the current row in the revision table then changing iproperties might be your preferred choice. Entering a value in iproperties will override the last row in the table and will update the title block.

TIP: Remember that you can open iproperties from the revision table but even faster you can bring them up by right clicking the drawing name in the tabs or in the browser like this:

               

Getting the iProperties window.

                Either way you choose to use this I hope I gave you some good info to speed up your workflow.

Later,
ADS

photo credit: Woolpit Steam (license)

Linking parameters

                A lot of the times you will need to create matching features (like holes) on different parts. You could create a single sketch and then derive it into separate parts or you could use “Make Layout” on the Layout panel of the Sketch tab, also located in on the Manage tab. This will use sketch blocks or solid bodies but you need to think ahead, and prepare the project beforehand and it will not be covered here. I want to talk to you about all those cases when you would use project geometry while in an assembly to mimic the features of one part into others. While this is fast and well permitted for small assemblies it is not recommended for large assemblies.

                In fact in my Application Options I have stripped out this making sure that adaptivity and associative doesn’t become a memory hog killing Inventor and taking all the fun out.

                TIP: If you hold down CTL wile projecting you will get the opposite of what you settings are. If the settings are set to create adaptive / associative edges then using CTRL you will in fact create non-adaptive / non-associative edges and vice-versa.

                In those rare cases where you just want to copy geometry from one part to the other you still have a lot of options like linking parameters, deriving one’s parameters into the other, copy the features/bodies at the assembly level and all of these options will update automatically for you. 

                But, do you really want it to compute them all the time, when using operations like rebuild all, when opening files, or when you just click update on the quick access?

                What I like to do is derive the parameters of one part into the other, no bodies, no other features, just the parameters and the reason for this is because a derived part can have the option to Suppress the link or Break the link so I can control what gets updated and more important when gets updated.

                TIP: part edges can change with a simple operation like chamfer or fillet and if you rely solely on project geometry with adaptivity you will have broken links and references.

                Give you parameters a name either when dimensioning or by adding them manually in parameters. When the dimension pop-up window shows up you can create custom name parameters dynamically by entering the name with no spaces, just underscore, followed by = and the value you want like this: “Hole_Distance=30”.

stop adjunsting your monitor, the screenshot is not paralel to sketch plane

                When you create a similar part go to 3D Model tab, Insert panel or Create panel and use the Derive button.

                In the settings dialog don’t bring any bodies, expand parameters and tick the ones you need bringing in.

                Now you can dimension your new part and have it update automatically when the original one changes.

                TIP: For coordinated assemblies you should look into linking files with excel which will provide a single source of control for your file updates.

Later,

ADS