13 Family Tables.

Contents:
13 Family Tables.

13.1 To create a part which uses a Family Table.

13.2 To create a Family Table.

13.3 To Insert Instances and Edit the Family Table.

13.4 To Create an Instance from a Family Table.

13.5 A Socket Head Screw example.

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13 Family Tables.

A major advantage of parametric modelling is the speed with which parts of similar
geometry but different sizes – a “family” of parts - can be created. This could be a family
of simple Bolts (controlled by, say, 6 dimensions) or a family of complex Electric Motor
casings (controlled by 100+ dimensions).
The basic method to create this family is to select each dimension, change it and
regenerate and save the Part with a new name. This can be very laborious for a large
number of parts or a large number of dimensions. Some saving in time can be achieved
by assigning relationships between dimensions, but in many cases there will not be a
simple mathematical relationship to suit all the parts to be created.
This problem is overcome by FAMILY TABLES and this section gives an introduction to
the creation and use of a Family Table.
A Family Table is produced by creating a basic part –called the GENERIC Part – which
has all the geometric feature of the required family of Parts. This Generic part is used to
create a table listing all the relevant dimensions. Dimensions for new parts (as many as
required) are entered into the table and by selecting the relevant section of the table the
new part- called an INSTANCE is created and added to the family.
! It is recommended that you practice the following instructions using a part with
simple geometry (a plate with a hole) and then apply Family Tables to more
complex parts.

13.1 To create a part which uses a Family Table.

Create your PART using normal Pro/E procedures.

! The dimension values are not too important as new dimensions are assigned in
the family table.
Add any relationships that can apply using basic mathematical equations. If one
dimension is always ½ of another it is easier to control this using a relationship and not
by typing both dimensions into the table)
As you may remember, Pro/ENGINEER uses symbols to name dimensions, such as d0
or d12. It is recommended to re-name these default symbols, in order to make them
more meaningful in the Family Table. Use the following selections from the Menu
Manager:

PART
MODIFY
DIM COSMETICS
Symbol

Click on the dimension you wish to re-name and enter the new name in the message
window area.

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13.2 To create a Family Table.

Under PART (top right menu) select Family Tab

A Family Table window is displayed, like the example above, stating “This model
currently has no family table …“

To add dimensions from the model, click:

The Generic family table is displayed, with no entries under “Items”:

Select the (generic) Part in the display area. All of the dimensions are displayed.

! For complex parts you can select a Feature.

Carefully select the dimensions to be inserted in the Family Table, in a sensible order.
We would not select a dimension that is constant for all Instances (say the plate
thickness of our “plate with a hole” example) or a dimension driven by a relationship.
You will see that each dimension is input into the Item list as a variable or symbol
name, d1, d2, d3 etc.

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! If you have not re-named your dimensions, as described in section 13.1, you will
have to write a note of the relevant dimension, as you enter them on the list.

i.e. d1= plate width, d2= plate length, d3= hole distance... d8=hole diameter

Select OK when you have selected all the required dimensions.

The Family Tree is now shown with each dimension in a column and the dimensions of
the Generic Part listed.

! Note the column headings reveal the dimension variables and the names you
assigned for clarity.

13.3 To Insert Instances and Edit the Family Table.

Again, if you have not re-named your dimensions, as described in section 13.1, you may
first wish to edit the Table to identify the dimensions from the notes made above.
From the top menu:

Insert > Comment Row

A row is created below the Generic Instance. The text in the comments row MUST start
with a ! Click on each cell to enter data. It is suggested that you enter !Dimension
Ref in the first cell under “Instance Name” and then enter a simple appropriate name for
the dimensions (i.e. plate width etc) for the other columns.

You will now add an Instance:

Select the last row in the table (in this case it will be under names entered above)
Click this button and a new row appears.
We will replace the “New Instance” name with a suitable name (NO SPACES) to identify
our first Instance ( Suggest InstanceA, InstanceB etc. for each instance in this exercise).

Then click in each dimension cell and input suitable dimensions for the first instance.
Continue with a few other instances.

Care must be taken with the dimensions to make sure you do not try to create an
Instance that has impossible geometry (i.e. the hole bigger than the plate !)

Select OK to Save the Table

Under Parts select Family Tab to re-open the table so that you can now create Parts
(Instances) from the table.

13.4 To Create an Instance from a Family Table.

With the Family Tree displayed, select an Instance by name and then click on the Open
button.

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The Instance will be created by ProEngineer.

To return to the original Family Tree you MUST open and Activate the Generic Part
window and then select Family Tab.

NOTES:

1) You should now experiment with other menu options (they are similar to Excel) to
expand and/or edit the table.

2) If you edit a value in the table for an Instance that you have previously created
you will need to Repaint in the Instance window to show the changes.

13.5 A Socket Head Screw example.

The Generic model: A Socket Head Screw, modelled as follows:

A Revolved Protrusion, with the dimension

symbols re-named as shown:

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The Hex hole was created using
a Protruded Cut with the feature
dimensions re-named as shown below:

Finally a Cosmetic Thread feature was added, giving

the generic part as shown here:

Relationships were defined to control various

proportional dimensions, such as the depth of the
hexagonal hole and chamfers:

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With the model complete, the family table was created, as described in section 3.2.

This example demonstrates the efficiency of Family Tables, where similar parts have
dimensions that are related in a non-linear fashion.

This table is obviously still under construction. You can see that only the M5 screws
have had the tables completed for each stock thread length. The values incidentally are
taken from suppliers data sheets.

In this example the only variables the engineer has to define, to create a solid model of
the Socket Head Screw, are the nominal thread size and the thread length. Every other
dimension is explicitly defined in the Family Table or derived from the relationships within
the model.

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