Example: Adding a Reference Model to a Family Table
This example shows a Family Table that includes an external reference. It uses two parts (A and B) and an assembly (AB).
The hole in part B is dimensioned to the outside edge of part A. In different instances of assembly AB, the thickness of part A varies, and so the hole in part B must be located differently. However, since part B has an external reference, its geometry can only be updated if it knows which assembly instance it needs to reference.
Part A has a Family Table that controls the values of its thickness. Assembly AB has a Family Table in which each instance of AB includes a different instance of part A and part B, Part B has a Family Table in which the external reference to assembly AB is established.
Family Table for Part A (5 instances)
|
Instance
|
d2
|
d3
|
|
Generic
|
3.00
|
3.00
|
|
A01
|
1.00
|
1.00
|
|
A02
|
2.00
|
2.00
|
|
A03
|
3.00
|
3.00
|
|
A04
|
4.00
|
4.00
|
|
A05
|
5.00
|
5.00
|
Family Table for Part B (5 instances)
|
Instance
|
External Reference 0
|
|
Generic
|
AB
|
|
B01
|
AB01
|
|
B02
|
AB02
|
|
B03
|
AB03
|
|
B04
|
AB04
|
|
B05
|
AB05
|
Family Table for Assembly AB (5 instances)
|
Instance
|
Component
|
Component
|
|
Generic
|
A
|
B
|
|
AB01
|
A01
|
B01
|
|
AB02
|
A02
|
B02
|
|
AB03
|
A03
|
B03
|
|
AB04
|
A04
|
B04
|
|
AB05
|
A05
|
B05
|
1. Part A
2. Part B
The generic of Assembly AB, in the top part of the diagram, shows Part A and Part B joined together and then dimensioned. An Instance of Assembly AB, shown dimensioned at the bottom of the diagram, reveals that the hold in Part B has an external reference to Part A.