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IQ actuator models background
Rotork Controls have designed all new products using the Solid
Edge CAD System since June 1998.
Each component of the actuator (e.g. Gearcase, Motor Cover, Handwheel,
etc) are "fully detailed" to be used in the manufacturing
process. These components are then assembled together to produce
the actuator assembly.
This assembly will contain all the alternatives for that frame size
of actuator and thus will contain hundred's of parts. Solid Edge
handles this within an assembly file by effectively ‘linking’
to the sub-assemblies & component parts.
However, exporting an actuator assembly into a common format for
use within another CAD system, will result in enormous output files
(up to 300Mb). Apart from the file size having to be transferred
via a CD (not practical to ftp or e-mail), it could also cause problems
with the security of our data (i.e. the files sent will be fully
‘manufacturable’ from the model files). The file size
would also prove cumbersome when importing and storing within another
CAD system.
The Solid Model format will compliment the existing Data Sheets
(DXF format), which have been used on many customers' 2D CAD systems
for a number of years.
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