Example: Adding a Reference Model to a Family Table

Fundamentals > Family Tables > Adding Items to Family Tables > Adding Reference Models to Family Tables > 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.