Design in Context

[MrCATIA]

Amnon, I suspect your problem is due to one of 2 things: either the CATProduct is not the original assembly you used when you first made the External Reference links, or you're trying to add new links to a part instance that is not "in context"

The latest picture you attached shows instances in different contextual states. Thank you for the picture, but you didn't tell me what type of icon your part has?

In my attachment, I've tried to explain what the different icons mean. I hope it's clear.

If what I suspect is correct; activate the contextual instance (green gear) of the slider, and try again to use the surfaces from the mandrel to make your hole. I suspect you may have had an out-of-context (brown gear) instances active, which prevents you from making new External Reference links.

Once you have the green gear part active, also use EDIT + LINKS to check the status of your External References

[amnon]

Hey MrCATIA

The latest picture you attached shows instances in different contextual states

is it wrong? Some parts are linked up to assembly by means of constraints (bolts etc.). Is it possible to make all assembly in context?

Thank you for the picture, but you didn't tell me what type of icon your part has?

Attachment

In my attachment, I've tried to explain what the different icons mean. I hope it's clear

image size is too small, I can't see, what did You wrot there.

activate the contextual instance (green gear) of the slider, and try again to use the surfaces from the mandrel to make your hole

Green gear is active. and all external references as well.

In my attachment, I showed problem with joint slider-mandrel (I've lost this contextual joint (surface-surface) and I can't get it back). When I try to conect slider-mandrel by means of Contact Constraint I receive: "Loop design between geometry and constraints"

So my request is ...... If You could take a look at my assembly (entirely)

Amnon

[MrCATIA]

Amnon; I think we are talking about different things here. I thought we were talking about External References, but you say in your last post the problem is with Assembly Constraints.

"Design in Context" is designing parts in the context of other parts in an assembly, using links (External References) to share features between parts. It has very little to do with Assemblies and Assembly constraints.

You asked several questions in your last post:

1. From what I can tell, your assembly is not wrong. The different colored icons only indicate the contextual state of each instance.

2. The instance called "Ramie_2.1" has an icon with two gears, blue and green, meaning this instance is the contextual one.

3. I had to reduce my picture to meet the size requirements for attachments. How did you attach your bigger picture? Try to copy my small attachment to another program (like PowerPoint) so you can resize it bigger.

4. The Loop error message is correct. Since you already have external references into "Ramie_2.1" adding assembly constraints between the two parts will create a loop. The only Assembly constraint you need on the green gear part is a FIX. "Ramie_2.1" should be in the correct position if it is "designed in context." You will only need to add Assembly Contraints to the other instances of the slider (Ramie_2, Ramie_2.2, etc.)

I hope everything makes sense.

I'm trying to help you here, but you really should try to find a local instructor who can teach you what "design in context" is all about.

[MrCATIA]

Ferdo posted the following link in the CATIA Forum on Eng-Tips.

Since this thread has had such a high number of reads, I wanted to share this information on Links and Design in Context for everyone to read. This is Part 2 of a 5-part article that appeared in the CATIA Operators Exchange (COE) newsletter back in 2005.

COE

The author is Julie Cyrenne from Dassault. She is one the smartest CATIA users I have ever met, she's a great teacher, and she really helped me alot when we worked together at Boeing.