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Family - Table Design Process in Creo
Family - Table Design Process in Creo
Figure 1: The shaft and its model tree.
Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Learning Targets
In this exercise you will learn:
Suppress features
How to create family tables
Changing part colors
Making feature copies
Rearrange features
In this exercise part shaft.prt is needed. This part is created in Exercise 1.1.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Starting Words
In this exercises a set of different shafts are made. As you remember from previous exercises, the part
created in Exercise 2.1 (base_box.prt) has two different sizes holes, but we only have one‐sized shaft.
There are a couple of options to create more shafts. The worst one is to create a brand‐new identical
shaft (the same features as our existing shaft) with new dimension values. A little better way is to
change the dimension values of the existing shaft and save a copy of it. The best method is to use
Family Table; it is a set of parts that share features and dimension with each other. We have the main
part, general, that distributes its features to different versions, instances, of that same part. In this
exercise, we first modify our shaft.prt and then we make it a general Family Table part.
To get started, open shaft.prt (File ‐> Open) which is created in Exercise 1.1.
Copying features
Figure 2: Our shaft as made in previous exercise.
Our shaft looks like in Figure 2. Notice that it has one keyway on the left end. We want also to have a
keyway on the right end, so select feature KEYWAY from Model Tree (isn’t it nice when features are
named smartly?) and press CTRL+C to copy it (or select Copy ( ) from Operations group). Then from
Operations group select Paste Special (Figure 3) to paste a copied feature.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Figure 3: Selecting Paste Special.
A Paste Special window appears. Unselect Depended copy (in this case we don’t want that this copied
feature is dependent on its parent) and select Advanced reference configuration (so we can place thr
copied feature elsewhere) (Figure 4). Click OK.
Figure 4: Paste Special window and its options.
An Advanced Reference Configuration window opens. Select FRONT from References of Original
Feature list (the last one) to give an alternative reference for the copied feature. Select the surface in
the non‐keyway end of the part (Figure 5). When ready, accept it ( ).
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Figure 5: Selecting a new reference to replace old one (FRONT, green plane).
The Preview window appears (Figure 6). Notice that in the message area text “Could not intersect part
with feature.” is displayed. This means that the feature can’t be placed with current information, its
orientation is still undefined.
Figure 6: Preview window and its fields.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
There are two items in the Orientation Items list. The first one is the extrusion direction i.e. to what
direction from the sketching plane the material is removed. We want to remove material inside the
shaft, so its direction is fine. The next one is the section orientation, i.e. which side of the plane is
positive. That we need to change, because we the flipped feature 180, so also the sketch orientation
needs to be flipped. Select the Section Orientation object from the list and click Flip. Then press the
preview ( ) to see where the feature will be placed (Figure 7). When the feature looks like in the
picture, accept it ( ).
Figure 7: Changing orientation, the old one in bright red, new one in darker red.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Figure 8: Dragging and dropping feature to its new location.
Suppressing features
Now we have keyways on both end of the shaft. Select the KEYWAY feature from the model tree,
RMB and select Suppress. Suppress notification window appears (Figure 9). Suppress removes feature
from part, but unlike Delete, it gives you an option to unsuppress it.
Figure 9: The suppress notification window. The feature in green is suppressed one, feature(s) in red are depended
on suppressed feature and will also suppress.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
As you still notice, the Suppress window is open. In normal situation, this window isn’t displayed, but
in our case there are some problems. Select Options>> and notice that in Children Handling (children
is a feature that is dependent on some other feature, in this case Chamfer is dependent on KEYWAY)
list the Chamfer feature is displayed. In the Status column Suppress is shown. That means that this
feature is also suppressed, because this feature needs information from the feature that is
suppressed (i.e. it is no more available). Change the Status from Suppress to Suspend (Figure 10). This
option “freezes” the feature and we may edit it manually. Click OK to accept the changes.
Figure 10: Changing Status to Suspend.
The model regenerates (i.e. creates features again to update the changes) and as you notice, the first
keyway is gone, but the feature is still in the model tree with a black box next to its name (Figure 11).
This symbolizes a suppressed feature. If you select it and click RMB, you can see that a couple of
operations can be done, and that there is no option to redefine or edit it.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Figure 11: The current state of the model tree. Notice the black box next to KEYWAY. This is the symbol of
suppressed features.
Redefining features
Now, there was a parent‐children connection between Chamfer and KEYWAY that needs to be cut.
Select the Chamfer 1 from the model tree, RMB and select Edit Definition. Then select Sets from the
dashboard and select Details (Figure 12).
Figure 12: Selecting Details to see edges that have been chamfered.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
A Chain window appears. This shows all edges where the chamfer operation is done (i.e. selected for
chamfering). From the list, select that edge that is located at the end of the shaft (without keyway)
and select Remove (Figure 13).
Figure 13: Non-keyway edge selected (green) and pressing Remove.
Next, select Add and select that removed edge again (Figure 14).
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Figure 14: Selecting edge to be chamfered.
Accept changes made by selecting OK and accepting the feature (MMB). This may look stupid, but this
is a way to be sure that KEYWAY feature is not connected to Chamfer 1. And it will be not, because
KEYWAY is suppressed. When a feature is suppressed, you can’t refer to it!
Let’s unsuppress our KEYWAY by selecting it from the model tree, clicking RMB and selecting Resume
from the list. The model regenerates. Now, to check what we achieved, try to suppress KEYWAY
again. If the fix was success, it would not suppress Chamfer 1 with itself. Before we continue, check
that both Chamfer 1 and KEYWAY are unsuppressed. Remember to save your model.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Creating Family Tables
Now our shaft is ready to apply family table functionalities. In Model tab from Model Intent group
select Family Table ( , Figure 15).
Figure 15: Selecting Family Table from Model Intent group.
A Family Table:SHAFT window opens. Click Insert a new instance ( ) twice to create two new
versions of the shaft, called instances. This creates two new rows to the family table. Rename the
rows as seen in Figure 16. At the family table, the rows represent different instances and column
instance values. These values can be e.g. the name of the instance, but it can be also the value of
dimension. Click Add/Delete table columns ( ) to add some dimensions and features to the family
table. A new window appears (Figure 17).
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Figure 16: Added two rows to the table and changed Instance Names and Common Names.
Figure 17: The Family Items window. Here you can add and remove family table columns.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Adding dimensions
Click ( ) to add a new dimension to the family table. Notice, that in Add Item field Dimension is
selected. Next, select the BASE feature to see its dimensions. Now you can see the values of the
dimensions. Each dimension has its name and its value. To see the names of the dimensions, click
Search ( ) from the upper right corner of the main user interface and start typing to text box swi and
select the first search result (Figure 18). This command switch symbols, so you can see dimension
names, not values.
Figure 18: Searching for a command. Notice that program also shows you where this command is located
(highlighted in yellow).
Regular dimensions are named d#, where # is a running number from 0. Every new dimension gets a
unique name, so you may have different dimension names as in this exercise.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
The previous tool is still active, select the dimensions that are (Note: numbering may be different,
remember, unique numbering!):
The diameter of the shaft (d13)
The diameter of the shaft collar (d19)
The distance from the beginning of the shaft to the beginning of the collar (d15)
The length of the collar (d17)
As reference, check Figure 19. Notice, that the numbering may not be the same!
Figure 19: Selecting the last dimension (d17). All previously selected dimensions are shown in the Items list.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Adding features
Now we have four dimensions selected. As you remember, our shaft has two keyways. We want that
one instance of the shaft has only one keyway, so we need to suppress the other one. This can be
done by adding a feature to the family table. Select Feature from Add Item field, select both KEYWAY
and KEYWAY2 and then select Done from the Menu Manager. Now in the Items list items F#, KEYWAY
and F#, KEYWAY2 are listed. It was good that the features were renamed! When your window looks
like in Figure 20, accept it (OK).
Figure 20: The Family Items before accepting the window. Your names may be different!
Now we are back at the family table and there are six new columns at the table. Now, for each
instance we can give different values. The symbol * in the cell means that the value to the instance is
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
coming from the generic part. We want that instances are different from generic part. Therefore, give
values to the instances as shown in Figure 21.
Figure 21: The updated family table values. Your dimensions may be different, check from the picture where the
dimensions are located!
Let’s see how the new instances look. Select SHAFT_BIG from the list and click the preview ( )
button. The program generates an instance by the rules defined at the family table and opens a new
window for viewing that instance (Figure 22). You can rotate the instance within the preview window.
To close the preview window, select Close. Check also the preview of the other instance
(SHAFT_SMALL). When ready, close the Family Table. If the dimensions are still showing, select
Repaint ( ) from Graphical toolbar or press CTRL+R. This repaints the graphics and all extra lines are
gone.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
Figure 22: Instance SHAFT_BIG preview on the left. Yes, it looks kind of funny.
Using colors
Our model looks grey. Let’s do something to that. Select the View tab and then Appearance Gallery
(Figure 23).
Figure 23: The Appearance Gallery opened.
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Kon-41.3006 Computer Aided Design Basic Course Kaur Jaakma
Exercise 2.2 2012
This tool handles how the part looks, which kind of reflection it has etc. There are some predefined
colors on My Appearances list and some real‐life materials in the Library list. Select adv‐metal‐
copper.dmt from the list (Figure 24) and select one (you have the freedom to choose) of the material
colors there.
Figure 24: Selecting adv-metal-copper.dtm from the material color library.
When the color is selected, we need to say to where it affects. We can select individual surfaces, but
in this situation it’s more suitable to select the whole part. Therefore, select SHAFT.PRT from the
model tree and click MMB to accept. Now the model is in a different color (Figure 24). Save the
model. Even we have made three different versions of the shaft (generic – the orginal shaft,
shaft_small and shaft_big), all information are still written in one part (shaft.prt). There is no
limitation how big the family tables can be, so you can have e.g. one standard bolt library in one part!
Also, to notify that the part is a generic model of the family table, in the left bottom corner of the
graphical area text Instance: GENERIC is written.
This ends our exercise.
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