About Viewing an Assembly Process Publication
You can browse the assembly 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 parts to be assembled in the current step
• 2D or 3D graphical display of the assembly at the current step
• Model tree (optional)
• Control panel
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).
The step description includes the information that the process planner entered in Manufacturing Process Planning for ASSEMBLIES. This can consist of procedural information (for example, a list of instructions), the purpose of the step, and any other relevant comments.
Part List
In part list frame, a table listing parts to assemble in the current step and any fixtures or tools required to perform the step, appears. By default, the part list table consists of the following items:
• Reference number
• Model name
• Quantity
The table also lists the additional parameters you include in the model when preparing the process for export. The additional information can include the part type (for example, standard component, cable, pipe, or fixture), inventory location, parameter name, and parameter value. Additional parameters that you include in the assembly process appear in the part table for all steps.
Click the name of the part in the table to open a window in which the VRML model of that part appears.
Step Navigation Control Buttons
The control buttons for navigating through the assembly process include:
• Prev—Show information about the previous assembly process step.
• Next—Show information about the next assembly process step.
• Step 1—A menu for selecting a step in any order appears. The name of the step appears next to the step (if you defined the name in the assembly process specifying the model setup name.
Graphics Frame
The graphics frame shows the assembly, including parts to assemble in the current step. When you open a publication, default 2D JPG assembly view appears in the frame. Click 2D JPG to open the window and select the graphics format you want: 2D JPG, 2D CGM, or 3D VRML. The choices depend on the graphics formats selected for the export.
If your publication contains multiple 2D model views, you can select the view you want.
Depending on how the step is defined in Manufacturing Process Planning for ASSEMBLIES, 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.
When you drag the mouse over a VRML part, the part name appears. Click the part name in the part list or model tree, to open a window in which the VRML model of that part appears.
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 Tree. Parts up to and including the current step in hierarchical order, appear with a tree in a new window. To close the window, click Tree again. If the tree window remains open while you move to another step, the tree updates accordingly.
By default, the tree is in a collapsed state. To expand or collapse the tree click the icon next to the assembly or subassembly name.
The number of instances of a part or subassembly within a higher-level assembly appears in parentheses next to the component name.