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IndustryArena Forum > CAM Software > SolidCAM for SolidWorks and SolidCAM for Inventor > SolidCAM Workflow - Change Model Reference - CAMpart Name issue
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    8

    SolidCAM Workflow - Change Model Reference - CAMpart Name issue

    Hello,

    TL ; DR
    A Copy of a SolidCAM part is renamed and the referenced part is changed to one that differs only in length and relative distances. Everything works fine with some tweaking. The problem is that the CAMPart name and top menu bar Display name are of the old CAMPart. They are also not able to be changed seemingly. Full explanation below:


    I'm fairly new to SolidCAM so I'm working on my workflow experience with SolidWorks.


    At present when I need to create multiple parts which have the same seed design but differ only in length and relative distances. I create a master SolidWorks part which can then be copied, pasted and renamed multiple times depending on how many variants are needed. This allows me to create multiple designs with minimum effort. For drawings and assemblies, I use the same copy/paste and rename method I do with the parts. I then use the "Replace Component" feature which works most of the time if the parts have no new geometry and only differ in relative distance. This method works well for me and has saved me days in design time. Also, if I'm careful about my workflow, I don't get any conflicts with original reference files.

    I was hoping to be able to do something similar in SolidCAM. I have been able to get it working with minimal tweaking and synchronizing but there are still a few issues.

    Just like in SolidWorks, I have multiple parts to program for the CNC with Mill-Turn.These parts are the same basic design, but have different lengths which in turn changes the location of geometries for operations.

    At present I have tried right clicking the model in the viewport and clicking "Replace Components". I then selected the longer component needed. This did throw up a few errors the I had to repair.

    I then noticed that a few other settings weren't referencing the new part. This was when right clicking on the CAM-Part at the top of the Item Tree List. The "Change Model Reference" was still referencing the original model but it wasn't apparent in the viewport. (I did have issues with the coordinate system moving down along the part to it's shorter position but I'm not sure if that was as a result of changing this reference or the replace component command.

    The major issue at the moment is that even though the filename is correct. The name in the top menu bar is still that of the original CAMpart. I right clicked on CAMPart again in in the item tree and clicked "CAMPart Properties".

    Here I can see the original CAMPart name that is the problem but I am unable to overwrite it. It is greyed out and unable to be changed.

    Does anyone have a solution to this issue as not having a written indication of what part I am working on in the program will become and issue when I start creating multiple copies.

    If anyone knows of a better workflow to achieve the same result I'd be very grateful. Sorry about the lengthy post but I thought it'd be better giving a full overview.

    Regards,

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    153

    Re: SolidCAM Workflow - Change Model Reference - CAMpart Name issue

    When you are making a copy of solidcam part use the solidcam save as option . Which you can obtain by right clicking on the TOP of item tree list and give your desired new name . When you do this solidcam will change the cam part name to the new name . After that you can change the model reference and continue with the cam part as you did before.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    8

    Re: SolidCAM Workflow - Change Model Reference - CAMpart Name issue

    Sweet, thanks.

    I'll give that a go. Hopefully it saves me time and the monotony of repetitive operations. I did read some other threads talk about using configurations, but i haven't used them much in SolidWorks and all of the parts are already in separate files, so it may not suit.

    Thanks.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Posts
    153

    Re: SolidCAM Workflow - Change Model Reference - CAMpart Name issue

    It works that way too . It's about your personal preference

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    8

    Re: SolidCAM Workflow - Change Model Reference - CAMpart Name issue

    Thanks for your help. Hopefully I don't run into any issues. This forum looks pretty helpful if i do though.

    Regards,

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Posts
    24

    Re: SolidCAM Workflow - Change Model Reference - CAMpart Name issue

    The other poster is correct in that you needed to have saved the [art under a different name first before clicking on the "Change Model Reference".

    If I could maybe make another suggestion as well. If you are programming multiple parts within a "family", as in they are basically the same but you keep changing some dimensions of a master model, you could try to use SolidWorks configurations in your design and then use those configurations inside SolidCAM. That way you just need to program one part and then switch between the configurations to post out code. You can see how to use configurations in this training video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58UO67Vz4iU&t=63s

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2017
    Posts
    8

    Re: SolidCAM Workflow - Change Model Reference - CAMpart Name issue

    Hi, thanks for the suggestion. I mightn't find time to readjust for this set of parts, but it'll definitely come in useful in the future.

    I've also come across the issue that i had with 4-axis rotation: When saving a process template of 4 operations (one 4-axis rotation for the 2nd 3rd and 4th operation to get to 90,180 and 270, where the tool path direction alternates between them), the rotations are not saved. It's not the end of the world but it does leave more work to do than the process templates for most other operations.

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