You need to be aware that CAD software is not like most of the software you are used to working on – don’t expect too many similarities to Word, PhotoShop etc.
File Management
You will very quickly create a large number of files associated to a single project and these files will be related to each other as soon as you start creating assemblies and drawings etc.
All related files need to be in a common folder – this folder is called the Working Directory
By default in the labs this folder is on the hard drive, not good in labs as your work will be deleted when you log off the PC. You need to set the Working Directory to a folder on your network drive Personal Workspace (U:)
Setting Working Directory Location in LDS Labs
Don’t choose My Documents when setting Working Directory
Before starting work, either follow these instructions, or;
Choose the the computer name from the left Folder browser
Your U: space Documents folders will then be listed in the right hand file list
Dbl click to see its contents
Choose a folder for your current working session > RMB menu > Set Working Directory
RMB menu > New Folder if you haven’t created a project folder already
Version files
Each time you save your model, Creo will save a complete new file. If I saved the file bracket.prt three times I would find bracket.prt.1, bracket.prt.2 and bracket.prt.3 in the working directory.
This allows you to track changes and revert to previous build states of a model. The highest number file is the most recent and is the only one you need to keep.
To delete version files of the active model either use the DV icon in the top toolbar, or
File > Delete > Old Versions – take care not to pick All Versions.
Or simply use My Computer to find and delete the unwanted files.
Associativity
First you create your core part files. From these you create assembly files, drawing files and manufacturing files (which also creates a further .asm file). These subsequent three files, .asm, .drw and .mfg do not contain the original part files which are used within them. Each time they are opened or regenerated they will be rebuilt or redrawn according the latest version of the part file.
For this reason it is essential that you keep all associated files together in one folder and do not rename them once they have been associated to another file type.
Renaming Files
Before you start renaming think about the associativity you have set up across your project, make sure you understand which are the top level files which will be looking for certain names. Renaming has to reorganise all these internal connections.
Open all top level files – drawings, assemblies, manufacturing files – this brings the whole project into session and allows the connections to be reorganised.
Open the file you want to rename > File > Manage File > Rename
The file will be renamed and any connections to that file in upper level files will be renamed.
As a precaution save all files as you close them.
Parent/Child Relationships
Just as you cannot exist if your parents did not exist then one feature which is referenced to another feature cannot be resolved if the reference feature ceases to exist or is fundamentally altered.
Features have parents and children and you should always consider those relationships when making modifying your model
Interrogating these relationships
RMB menu on any entity from assembly done to sketch > Info > Reference Viewer
The Reference Viewer window will show you what and how that entity is related to, what are its’ parents and what are its’ children. Look for drop down menus and RMB menus on the various icons to get deeper into the relationships.
Create then Modify
Features are very easily redefined. If something didn’t turn out as you wanted or fails then you do not have to delete it and start again you simply go back into the feature creation process and tweak the parameters.
Failed features
If the feature you have created cannot be built or your actions have effected another feature, i.e. you’ve fundamentally changed or removed references, then a warning message will give you the option to undo the changes or continue.
If you continue, the effected feature and any effected child features in the Model Tree will turn red and be suppressed. They are not deleted but they are taken out of the build, RMB > Edit Definition to sort out the failure.
You may need to think very carefully about why a model has failed. It may be as simple as a failed fillet because you deleted the reference edge in the sketch driving the extrusion the fillet was built on. It may be that the changes you made had a ‘knock on’ effect through a number of levels of direct child features and children of children.
CADCAM Resources 