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Basic Concepts of Table Driven Parts | 363
Basic Concepts of Table Driven Parts
In the manufacturing industry, you often have parts that are similar to each
other except for size or a particular feature. Some examples are springs, brackets,
plates, nuts, and bolts. By driving part versions from an external spreadsheet,
you can document a number of similar parts using one drawing.
The external spreadsheet, or table, is where you make modifications to your
design specifications once your drawing is set up. By controlling a part from
a table, you avoid errors due to design changes that have not been imple-
mented across a number of drawings. All design data is contained in the
table, with one drawing representing many parts.
Open the file tdpart1.dwg in the desktop\tutorial folder.
NOTE Back up the tutorial drawing files so you still have the original files if you
make a mistake. See Backing up Tutorial Drawing Files on page 40.
The drawing is a simple bracket that you link to a spreadsheet.
The part is controlled by its relationships to nine active part design variables.
Changing the value of one variable affects every dimension that has a rela-
tionship to it. For information on creating and modifying design variables,
see chapter 11, Using Design Variables.