Maple can communicate with CAD applications to read and modify the scalar parameters of a model. Use this assistant to browse and modify CAD designs and as a tool to help you create your own CAD-enabled Maple documents. For help on using this assistant, see CAD Link Assistant Help.
CAD Package: Autodesk InventorSiemens NXSolidWorks
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Help
Description
The functionality offered by the CAD Link Assistant allows you to explore and even modify the properties of documents from supported CAD applications. Its main purpose, however, is to offer a convenient tool for discovering the names of dimensions and parameters, which are required when your create your own worksheets to interact with your CAD documents. For an overview of supported CAD applications, see the CAD help page.
Instructions
Select one of the supported CAD packages from the CAD Package combo box and then click Connect. The browser will connect to a running instance of the CAD application if one is available; otherwise, a new instance will be created.
Important: To connect to Siemens NX, you must first start the server from NX before using this assistant. Follow the steps under Connecting to NX on the CAD[NX] help page. Then, select Siemens NX from the CAD Package list.
When connected to the CAD application, the Current Document combo box contains a list of all the documents open in the application. To open more documents, click Open Document. Any open document can be closed, even those that were opened before connecting the CAD Link Assistant. If no documents are open when you disconnect from the CAD application, the application will be shut down. Otherwise, it will be left running and can be reconnected later.
When an open document is selected, dimension (parameter) selection can be used to view the properties of any dimension (parameter) in the document. By default, all available dimensions (parameters) are listed in the Dimension ("Parameter") combo box; however, it is possible to reduce this list by including only those dimensions (parameters) selected (with the mouse) in the CAD application, or by applying a filter specified by the Find text box. The filter accepts wildcard patterns as described in the wildcard help page, and is applied when you click Find.
To change the value of a dimension (parameter), edit the value in the Value text box and then click Apply Changes. This action updates the CAD document and saves your changes.
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