2007

Rules Based Design Automation

DriveWorksXpressTutorial

DriveWorks Ltd
01/23/2007

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DriveWorksXpress
Tutorial
1. Introduction

Start by installing the Models to a NEW FOLDER on your C: Drive. You should call
this folder C:\DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryFiles
This example will allow you to
step through DriveWorksXpress
from start to finish.
You will have the opportunity to
follow a script, capture the
features and dimensions that you
want to change, create the user
interface and assign rules.
At the end you will be able to
specify a new Gantry Crane.

2. About DriveWorksXpress
DriveWorksXpress is the easy to use rules based design automation tool for
SolidWorks Users. It is the Xpress version of DriveWorks - the SolidWorks
Certified Gold Partner for Design Automation - www.driveworks.co.uk
There are two aspects to working with DriveWorksXpress
1. Administration - ie Setting up your Project
- Decide which parameters in your model you want to drive or change
- Create a simple form for entering input values
- Define rules to determine how your model will behave and link to the
inputs on your form
2. Run - Running new models from the Project you have set up
- Enter input values into your form
- Generate new models and drawings
Once a project has been set up, it can be Run over and over again to
automatically create the new models and drawings

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Lets get started

1. Launch SolidWorks 2007

2. Launch DriveWorksXpress
The DriveWorksXpress Welcome Screen Opens

The Welcome Screen provides you with feedback on the options available to you,
on the state of the project (s) you are working on, or on the projects you have
already set up and that are ready to Run.
Note - DriveWorksXpress uses a database to store all the knowledge and
information needed to generate the outputs, clones and specifications. When you
open DriveWorksXpress for the very first time it creates a default database to
store your work called driveworksxpress.mdb.
The DriveWorksXpress Welcome screen always displays the Folder Path and File
Name of the currently available database.

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The Welcome Screen also displays feedback on options available to the user:

Create/Change your database

Add Models, or Edit your existing models
Run Models

Create/Change Database
When DriveWorksXpress is launched without a database loaded, the only
options are to use the default database OR to create a new one.
Add/Edit Models
This is only enabled once a database has been selected.
Run
This is only enabled once you have the completed the Administration/Set up of
your project. You can then generate new models using the Input form you have
created, and based on the parameters you have already captured and the rules
you have assigned rules.
For this exercise we will create a new database
3. Create a New Database
Check the Radio Button

against Create/Change database

Click Next
A Windows dialog box appears
Browse to where you want to create your new database (.mdb file)
For this exercise - name the database LiftingBeamExample
Type the New File Name into the File Name Field and click Open

NOTE: Database Names must be unique.

If a name is not unique a warning message will appear advising that an existing
database will be overwritten. You may choose YES or NO to overwrite.
NOTE: Once you start using DriveWorksXpress regularly you may choose to store
multiple projects in a single database in different databases.
4. Add your SolidWorks Models to DriveWorksXpress
DriveWorksXpress lets you create variants of your CAD assemblies, parts and
drawings. To do this you need to open your CAD file and add the relevant models
to DriveWorksXpress.

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As this is the first time you have worked on DriveWorksXpress you will need to
Browse for a new Model to add to your Database.

Check

Add/Edit Models

A new window will open so you can Browse to the location of your file in this
case c:\DriveworksXpressMobileGantryFiles\MobileCrane
Now select the top level SolidWorks Assembly file Mobile Gantry.SLDASM

Click Open
5. Capture Select which models you want to drive
DriveWorksXpress now displays the assembly tree for the open assembly.
Double Click the + symbol by the Assembly to expand / collapse the tree.

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Select the parts/assemblies that you want DriveWorksXpress to control by

checking the box next to each item
Note - The Model will now also be open and visible in SolidWorks behind the
DriveWorksXpress wizard
For this exercise check the following models: -

Beam Assembly
Universal Beam
SWL Master
Leg Assembly
Lower Leg
Top Leg

Click Next
Note: Within the main capture tab there are four other tabs. These are for the
different file types that DriveWorks can capture and drive. These are:
Dimensions & Features, Custom Properties, Drawing and Configurations.
5.1

Capture - Dimensions and Features

DriveWorksXpress lets you capture specific Dimensions and Features so that you
can apply rules and / or so you can specify new models based on the original
criteria using your own input forms.

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A parameter is captured by selecting the model that the parameter exists in from
the tree view and clicking Add
Once the Add button is clicked the DriveWorksXpress wizard will disappear and
the Parameter manager will open at the bottom of the SolidWorks feature
manager.
Follow the steps below which will guide you through each parameter that is to be
captured for the Lifting Beam Example.

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5.1.1. Universal Beam

Select the Universal Beam from the tree view and click Add
Capture the Section Length of the Universal Beam
In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that
contains the dimension to be captured (for the Section Width it is the plane
named Right End plane). The dimension will appear on the model.

Select the dimension from the model (by clicking on the dimension value).
The SolidWorks Name of the
dimension will appear as
SolidWorks Selection in the
Parameter Manager

Enter a New DriveWorks Name

This can be something more meaningful eg Beam Length
The captured parameter will also now appear in the Parameter list.
Next Capture the Section Height of the Universal Beam.
In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that
contains the dimension to be captured (for the Section Height it is the Base
Extrude). The section dimension will appear on the model

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Click on the dimension and then, in the DriveWorksXpress Parameter Manager,

enter a new name Beam Height
Return to the DriveWorksXpress Model Wizard by clicking Finish
5.1.2. Lower Leg
Select the Lower Leg from the tree view and click Add
Capture the height of the Lower Leg
In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that
contains the dimension to be captured (for the Lower Leg it is Sketch 1).
The Lower Leg sketch dimension will appear on the model.
Click on the dimension that controls the height and, in the parameter manager,
enter a new DriveWorks Name Lower Leg Height
Click Apply
Then Return to the DriveWorksXpress Wizard by clicking Finish
5.1.3. Top Leg
Select the Top Leg from the tree view and click Add
Capture the height of the Top Leg
In the SolidWorks Feature Manager double click the icon of the feature that
contains the dimension to be captured (for the Top Leg it is the Plane
named Height). The Top Leg plane dimension will appear on the model.
Click on the dimension and, in the DriveWorksXpress
Parameter Manager, enter a new name Top Leg
Height.
Click Apply.
5.1.4. Inner Diagonal feature
Capture the Inner Diagonal Feature
The overall width of the gantry may also affect whether
or not we need all the supporting members.
DriveWorksXpress can control the suppression state of
sketches, planes, features, folders etc. and can also
delete them from the model. In this example we have a folder with features in it.
Using rules we can control whether we have these features or not.
Select the folder named Inner Diagonal from the SolidWorks Feature Manager
The folder name will appear in the DriveWorksXpress parameter manager.

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Enter a new DriveWorks name Inner Diagonal.

Click Apply
Click Finish to Return to the DriveWorksXpress Wizard
5.1.5. Leg Assembly
Select the Leg Assembly from the tree view and click Add
Capture the plane that controls the overall height of the two parts (top leg
and lower leg) when they are mated together.
Select the plane named Top from the SolidWorks Feature Manager
The plane name will appear in the DriveWorks Parameter Manager.
In the Parameter Manager, enter a new DriveWorks Name
Overall Height
Click Apply
Click Finish to return to the DriveWorksXpress Wizard
Select the Custom Properties TAB to start capturing Custom Properties

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6. Capture - Custom Properties

DriveWorksXpress can also drive values to Custom Properties:
These are useful for linking to annotations in drawings to drive text on drawing
borders or notes. They are also useful for acting as placeholders where complex
rules can be broken down into more manageable portions.
Double Click on Mobile Gantry to expand the tree, if it is not already expanded.

6.1 Transfer the Custom Properties for the Mobile Gantry Assembly
Highlight the Mobile Gantry Assembly in the tree view.
Any existing Custom Properties will appear in the left hand pane under the
window Non-Captured Properties.
In this example these are:

Drawn by
Safe Working Load
Project

Transfer all these to the Captured Properties Panel using the arrow keys

Select the Drawing Tab

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7. Drawings
As well as generating new models DriveWorksXpress can also produce new
drawings of the model. This is done by associating a previously produced
template drawing of the master model.

1. To add a drawing, highlight the Mobile Gantry top level assembly from the
tree view and click Browse
2. Browse to the location of the template drawing
(C:\DriveWorksXpressMobileGantryFiles\ Mobile Crane)
3. Select Mobile Gantry.SLDDRW and click Open
The File Path of the
drawing now appears
in the drawing pane so
that you can check you
have the correct
drawing

It is also possible to add one part drawing per part too

Double click the Mobile Gantry Assembly in the tree view to expand (if not
already expanded) and Add the template drawings for the following parts

Top leg.SLDDRW
Lower leg.SLDDRW

Select the Configurations Tab

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8. Configurations
DriveWorksXpress allows you to build a rule to switch the configuration of your
model to any other existing configuration.
In this example highlight SWL Master in the Assembly Tree
Select the option
Yes. Allow me to create a rule to switch configurations

Click Next to proceed from the Capture Tab to the Form Tab

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9. Input Form
You now need to create an input form that you will use as the interface for
specifying new models this form can be used again and again to specify and
generate all the models and drawings according to the rules that will be put in
place.
Start by adding the input controls

9.1 Enter the name for the control in the Input Name field Project Number
Use the Drop Down to Select the type of control you want to use Text Box
Note: The Required checkbox denotes that an input must be entered
Click Next to register the control and display the Control List

Repeat for the following input controls by clicking Add on the Control List

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9.2 Input Name = Customer Name. Input Control Type = Text Box
9.3 Input Name = Drawn By. Input Control Type = Drop Down
When a Drop Down control is selected a panel is activated that allows Drop Down
values to be entered.

Enter the names that are to be selected from the drop down box here. Hit return
after each name to place on the next line.
9.4 Input Name = Safe Working Load. Input Control Type = Drop Down
Enter the following drop down values:

500 Kg
1000 Kg

Note: We will be using these values to drive a configuration in one of the models.
Ensure the entries are identical to those shown (i.e. space between 0 and K,
upper case K, no spaces at front or end of each text string.
9.5 Input Name = Opening Height. Input Control Type = Spin Button
A spin button requires some additional properties setting. These dictate the
minimum and maximum values that can be selected and the increments the
values will jump when the spin button is pressed.
Enter a min value of 1500
Enter a max value of 2500
Enter an increment value of 50
Note: The units that DriveWorks drives the models to are the document units the
model has been set to. In this example we have used metric units
9.6 Input Name = Opening Width. Input Control Type = Numeric Text Box
A Numeric Text Box allows limits to be set that the entered value is evaluated
against. If the limits have been exceeded a warning will be given.
Enter a minimum value of 1500
Enter a maximum value of 4000
Note: Form Design - Once created you can move controls up and down, edit,
delete and test them. Fields which have not been validated remain red
You can now enter some test values to check that items such as spin buttons and
drop downs have the information you require. You can even set default values.
Click Next to proceed to the Rules Tab to set up and build your rules

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10. Model Rules

DriveWorks lets you use Excel syntax to build rules. We will use some common
examples of this below.
Rules Summary
DriveWorksXpress provides you with a summary of the rules that need building

Checking an Action against one of the Rule Types will filter the rules by that
particular Rule Type. It is possible to select more than one rule type at a time.
Filtering is particularly helpful where there are large numbers of rules to be built
Where Rules are not required for a particular type, the check box will not be
enabled.
The summary provides constant feedback on Total Number of Rules and
Incomplete Rules (which still require rules to be built against them).
File Name Rules (7)
Start by building rules for File Names.
Edit File Name Rules
Click Next
Note: By default the next screen displays only the files with Missing Rules and
which need building. The file icon includes a red cross where rules are missing.
To view all Files in the category uncheck the box

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You can choose to view your Files as a List or as a Tree View

View List

View Tree

The Default View is View List

Note: Build rules by highlighting and double clicking on the file.
You can also use the shift key to multi-select files to build the same rule on.
1. Mobile Gantry
We will use the value Project Number as the rule for our File Name so that
every time a new Mobile Gantry project is created it will be named based on
the Project Number.
To do this Highlight Mobile Gantry
Double Click the DriveWorksXpress Rules Builder Wizard appears
Note: To help build your rules use the tabs Inputs | Recent | Math | Logic

Note The items listed in Inputs are all the controls that you have created for
entering inputs on your form. You map these inputs to your parameters
when you are building your rules.

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Click on the Input Value

Project Number

The effect of this will be to append the Project Number to the Mobile Gantry file
name when you run your new specification.
Click Next to return to the Rules Summary List
Continue by adding rules for the remaining 6 File Names
NOTE: In Rule Building the symbol & is used to link strings.
2. Beam Assembly
Build the rule as follows
Opening Width & Wide & SafeWorkingLoad & SafeWorkingLoad
Note - You can add and use Quick Text for frequently used text strings for
example wide, high, Opening Width and so on.
Just Add your text to the Recent Tab.
3. Universal Beam
Build the rule as follows
Opening Width & Wide & SafeWorkingLoad & SafeWorkingLoad
Because this rule was already created for the Beam Assembly it is possible to
multi-select Beam Assembly & Universal Beam to apply the same rule
4. SWL
Build the rules as follows
Click on the Input Value Safe Working Load
5. Leg Assembly
Build the rule as follows
Because DriveWorks can reuse files previously created you can build a library
of standards.
In this example you could use the height parameters to build up a text string
as a means of identifying the file. Use the Original File Name, then add the
Opening height & high. So the rule will appear as follows:
Opening Height & high
6. Lower Leg
Base this rule on the following string
Opening Height & high
7. Top Leg
Base this rule on the following string
Use the value Opening Height & high
Click Next to return to Rules Summary

Configurations Rules (1)

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Un check Edit File Name Rules

Edit Configuration Rules
DriveWorksXpress does not create new configurations but it can be set to
drive an existing file. The Safe Working Load Label uses configurations.
8. SWL Master
Use the value SafeWorkingLoad
Click Next to return to Rules Summary
Custom Property Rules (3)
Un check Edit Configuration Rules
Edit Custom Property Rules
Click Next
9. Drawn by
Use the value Drawn by
Note: You can multi-select all the drawn by values and build these rules at the
same time
10. Safe Working Load
Use the value Safe Working Load
11. Project
Use the value Project Number
Click Next to return to the Rules Summary
Dimension Rules (5)
Un check Edit Feature Rules
Edit Dimension Rules
Click Next
12.Overall Height
Map to the Opening Height value from the Input Form
13.Top Leg Height
Map to the Opening Height value from the Input Form/2 + 200
14.Lower Leg Height
Map to the Opening Height value from the Input Form/2 + 200

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15. Beam Length

Use the value Opening Width
16.Beam Height
Base this rule on the Safe Working Load
Use an IF statement and say that
IF the SafeWorkingLoad equals 500 Kg
then use 200
otherwise use 250

Note: The value used in the expression must be identical to the input that can be
selected. For example, if the user can select a value of 500 Kg from the Input
control for Safe Working Load, this text string must be used in the expression.
All alpha or alpha-numeric text strings must be presented within speech marks
Feature Rules (1)
Un check Edit Dimension Rules
Edit Feature Rules
Click Next
17. Inner Diagonal
Build an IF statement such that if the user has selected an opening width
greater than 3000mm, then the Inner Diagonal feature is to remain
Unsuppressed, if not then the Inner Diagonal feature is to be Suppressed

Remember All alpha or alpha-numeric text strings must be presented within

speech marks .
Numerical values do not require speech marks.
You have now assigned all the rules that you need to apply.
Click Next to Run

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11 Run
The input form you created now appears.
Follow the Tool Tips and complete the form.

You can use the default values, base your specification on one you created earlier
OR clear the form so that you enter the details from scratch.
DriveWorks will now generate your new outputs.

If you want to create new files using the same rules, just fill out the form
again, and again and again.
Note: For further help see the Help files within DriveWorksXpress

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