This article gives an example of how to use the Group Parts command for creating a one-off product in the AutoCAD design environment. After creating the base product, you may add formulas to expand the flexibility and functionality of your product. This tutorial does not include the addition of those formulas.
There are a few things to keep in mind when using this command. The first is that if you group parts that contain formula-driven values, all those values will become hard-locked, and you will lose the formula. Also, any parts that aren’t selected in the grouping from the products you group together will be thrown out and no longer exist. The last is you cannot group parts in a subassembly. So if there are subassembly parts in a product that is being grouped, you will lose all those parts.
Open Toolbox, start a new project and open a new room.
Click the “Draw” command bar. Then click: “Draw Products > Miscellaneous > Misc Starter Part.”
Fig. 1
Click “Place Product at Selected Point” and pick a location in the drawing to place the product (part).
Draw a second product (part) using the same procedure. This time when selecting a point in the drawing to place the product, select the upper right corner of the existing product. The two parts should be butted up to each other, as shown below.
Fig. 2
Combine these two parts (products) into a single product using the Group Parts command.
Click the “Modify” command bar. Then click: “Modify Parts > Group Parts.”
Click the item number that you want to be assigned to your new product when prompted. The parts you select will be added to this product. Enter the name of your new product in the Product Description area of Edit Product box. Click OK.
Fig. 3
Use an AutoCAD selection window to include all the parts/products you want to be included in your new product. Press Enter.
Fig. 4
After the process is complete, a single item number will remain that includes all the parts that you included in the AutoCAD window.
Make the necessary modifications to your parts by moving or rotating them to the desired locations. In this tutorial, we will use the commands Move Parts, Rotate Parts at Modify > Modify Parts.
Click the Modify command bar, then: “Modify Parts > Rotate Part.”
Select the second part drawn and enter -90 in the Y Rotation box of the Rotate Part interface.
Fig. 5
Click the Update button.
The vertical part overlaps the end of the horizontal part and needs to me move to the right an amount equal to the part thickness.
Click the Modify command bar, then: “Modify Parts > Move Parts.”
Select the left lower back corner of the vertical part as the first pick point.
Fig. 6
Select the right lower back corner of the horizontal part as the second pick point.
Fig. 7
After the move is complete, the parts should appear, as shown below.
Fig. 8
Save the drawing.
You may also use the Part Properties interface to accomplish this. For more information on the Part Properties interface, see articles found elsewhere in the Microvellum Knowledge Network.
You now have a very rudimentary one-off product created by grouping parts and modifying them to be in the desired configuration. You may now create a work order that includes this product and process as needed to create manufacturing data. Those subjects are covered elsewhere in the Microvellum Knowledge Network.