DimXpert and Copy Scheme for Configurations

When designing models in SOLIDWORKS I often use configurations to create multiple derivations of a product.  When defining configurations using GD&T it is beneficial to use a single annotation scheme across each configuration of the part.  SOLDIWORKS DimXpert allows me to quickly do this without duplicating effort by copying an annotation scheme from one configuration to another.

In this case I used the DimXpert copy scheme tool to annotate this robot hand.  When I modeled this robot hand I had both a heavy-duty and a light-weight application in mind so I created two configurations to match my needs.

Heavy Gripper Arm ASMLight Gripper Arm ASM

When annotating the configurations of the model I wanted to use the same dimensioning scheme, just with different values.  To begin, I used DimXpert to dimension one instance of a gripper pad.

Light Gripper Pad Annotated

To carry the annotations from the light-weight configuration of the gripper pad to the heavy-duty version, I used the “copy scheme” tool located in the DimXpert manager.

Heavy Gripper Pad

The DimXpert copy scheme tool allows you to type a name for your new annotation scheme which will be displayed at the top of the annotations tree in the DimXpert manager.  In the tool you may also write a description and comments for the scheme which will be displayed in its properties.  To complete the copy scheme, you must also choose the source configuration.  In this case I selected the scheme from the light-weight configuration.

Heavy Gripper Pad Copy Scheme

After selecting ok, the annotation scheme is copied from the source configuration to the new configuration. Note that although the dimension locations, types and styles are copies, the values update to stay relevant to the new configuration.

Heavy Gripper Pad Annotated

Originally posted by Tyler Smith in the SOLIDWORKS Tech Blog

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