About Viewing a Manufacturing Process Publication
You can browse the manufacturing process information on the Web in a step-by-step format. Frames appear containing the following information for the current step:
• Description of the current step
• Table of operations and steps for the manufacturing process
• Control panel
• 2D or 3D graphical display of the assembly at the current step
Step Parameters
The title of the frame describing the step indicates the step number and type of step. The contents of the frame include the step description, time estimate, and cost estimate (if defined). It also contains links to details about the step.
The step description reflects the information that the process planner specified in Manufacturing Process Planning. This can consist of procedural information (for example, a list of instructions), the purpose of the step, and any other relevant comments.
When you select any of the following, a separate window containing information opens:
• Operation Parameters
Click Operation Parameters in the step parameters frame and a separate window opens with information based on the operation parameters for the step.
• Step MFG Parameters
When you access the step manufacturing parameters in the step parameters frame, a separate window opens with information based on the step manufacturing parameters for the step.
• Tool Information
When you access the tool information in the step parameters frame, a separate window opens with information based on the tool information for the step. If a tool path is associated with the step, it appears along with the tool table information.
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 Tool information is available only if a tool is defined for the selected step. |
• WorkCell Parameters
When you access the parameters associated with the work cells in the step parameters frame, a separate window opens with information based on the work cell parameters for the step.
• NC Sequence Parameters
When you access the NC sequence parameters on the step parameters frame, a separate browser screen opens with information based on the NC sequence parameters for the step.
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NC sequence parameters are available only if NC sequences are defined for the selected step.
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• BOM Report
When you access a BOM report on the step parameters frame, a separate browser screen opens with the bill of materials (BOM) for the step
• Operations/Steps List
The operations/steps frame displays an operations/steps list, showing the parts and steps in the manufacturing process. You can choose from the Operations/Steps tree to view the selected step.
Step Navigation Control Buttons
The control buttons for navigating through the manufacturing process include:
• Prev—Show information about the previous manufacturing process step.
• Next—Show information about the next manufacturing process step.
• Step 1—Display a pop-up menu for selecting a step in any order. The name of the step appears next to the step (if you have defined the name in the manufacturing process using the model setup name).
Graphics Frame
The graphics frame shows the assembly, including parts to be assembled in the current step. When you open a publication, the frame displays a default 2D JPG assembly view. By clicking the 2D JPG control button, you open the pop-up window, which enables you to select the desired graphics format: 2D JPG, 2D CGM, or 3D VRML. The choices depend on the graphics formats that were selected for the export.
If your publication contains multiple 2D model views, you can select the required view from a list.
Depending on how the step was defined in Manufacturing Process Planning, a VRML model can show a model in its exploded state, as a simplified representation, or as a full representation. You can pan, zoom, or spin a 3D model by using the VRML viewer controls.
For a VRML model, when you move the mouse pointer over a part, the part name appears at the mouse pointer. By clicking the part name in the part list or model tree, you can open a window displaying the VRML model of that part.
Typically, you can zoom or pan only a 2D CGM model. Note that 2D view manipulation tools depend on the plug-in or helper application that you use.
Viewing the Model Tree
To view a model tree, click the Tree button in the control panel. This opens a window with a tree, which displays parts up to and including the current step in hierarchical order. To close the window, click the Tree button again. If the tree window remains open while you move to another step, the tree is updated accordingly.
By default, the tree is in a collapsed state. By clicking the icon next to the assembly/subassembly name, you can expand or collapse the tree.
The number of instances of a part or subassembly within a higher-level assembly appears in parentheses next to the component name.