Working with Tooling Skeletons

You can use Tooling Skeletons to create Tooling structures such as a Tool, a Mobile Unit, or a Structured Component.

Tooling Skeletons optimize the product structure design and update. However, they do not reflect physical components or parts.

  • Do not delete nor copy Tooling Skeletons.
  • They are not viewed in the bill of materials.
  • They are not drilled, nor cut, and they cannot drill or cut other objects.

This task shows you how to:

Set Your Preferences

You can customize two options related to Interface Skeletons, Skeletons and 3D Shape Skeletons.

  1. Open the options dialog box as explained in Customizing Preferences.
  2. When working on a sub-assembly without loading all the project, select Create Interface Skeleton for Impacts.
    When Create Interface Skeleton for Impacts is selected, Interface Skeletons are created and used to allow design inside sub-assemblies with impacts on external products (for example the Ejection Side), without loading the full product structure up to the root product (for example the Mold Base product). In other words, Interface Skeletons provide an added value when the designer of a sub-assembly impacted by external products does not have access to the full product structure (security rights or supplier).
    Notes:
    • This option applies to Mobile Unit, Mold Base and Structured Component.
    • To keep the structure simple, do not activate this option when one single user is working on an assembly.
    • The status of this option cannot be changed in the middle of the design process. For example, you cannot clear it to delete the Interface Skeletons during the process.
  3. To simplify the product structure and avoid useless reference in the bill of materials, select Create Skeletons as 3D Shapes.

    This check box applies to commands that create Tooling Skeletons automatically (not Add > Content nor Insert).

    • When this check box is not selected, the commands create Skeletons.
    • When this check box is selected, the commands create 3D Shape Skeletons.
    Notes:
    • Skeletons and 3D Shape Skeletons both have a parent product.
    • A 3D Shape Skeleton is always fixed in its parent product.
    • A Skeleton can be positioned in its parent product.

Insert a Skeleton

You can insert a Skeleton under a product, either as a product or as a representation.

The Skeleton contains wireframe information, parameters required to drive a product structure, and external geometry.

  1. From the Product Edition section of the action bar, click Insert New Product and choose the parent product.
    1. In the New content list, scroll down to Tooling Design Package and select Skeleton.
    The Skeleton is created as a product under the parent product.
  2. From the Product Edition section, click Insert New 3D Shape or Insert New Representation and choose the parent product.
    1. In the New content list, scroll down to Tooling Design Package and select 3D Shape Skeleton.
    The Skeleton is created as a representation under the parent product.