Automation of CAD Model Creation

This application is dedicated to creation of CAD master model with use of creoson application and creopyson python library. Implementation of this application happened in Kraussmaffei Technologies company, which focuses on production of injection moulding machines. Application automates manual process of creation CAD master model. This process is based on assembling of models in to master model according to information from ERP system.

Table of Contents

• Workflow of application
• Technologies
• Dependencies and Folders

Workflow of application

• User makes sure that creoson application is initialized and set up. Then is application allowed to run.
• User selects source master model and order number for automation process.
• Automation loads bill of material from ERP system. After it takes control control over CAD software CREO Parametric with use of creoson API and creopyson library.
• CAD master model is prepared and correct model groups are assembled to it from database system.
• Feedback of process is delivered to user, to save postprocess time of finalization of CAD master model.

Technologies

This project uses Creoson application from Simplified Logic inc. This application sets up tiny micro server through which is possible to send requests in json file format over the HTTP protocol. Those request are converted to API of CAD software. Core code KM_Assembly_Automation.py is written in python language, with use of creopyson library by Benjamin C. This core code uses procedural approach.

Dependencies and Folders

Except direct dependency on performance of Creoson application, automation of mastermodel has several more dependecies.

• Core application KM_Assembly_Automation.exe is dependent to folder it is located in.
• In DatabaseFolder is located mastermodels_database.xlsx file, which consists list of source models of injection moulding machines and their properties (like clamping unit size, injection unit size, number of plastification units, special signs etc.)
• DeleteExclude folder contains sub-folders with name of machine types manufactured by company. DeleteExclude.csv file is in every sub-folder, and consists information of assembly groups which will be spare in process of automation due to low data quality of its CAD models (such as incorrect naming conventions).
• FeedbackFolder is folder where information of process are stored. After every automation there are screenshots of model groups which should be in CAD model according to bill of material list, but due to various kind of errors those CAD models had not been assembled to CAD master model.
• ErpBom folder is used to store bill of material from ERP system
• IconPictures folder contains icons and picture which are used in graphical user interface of applications

Setup environment (Windows)

1. Create python venv in this folder with python -m venv environment command
2. Activate venv with environment\Scripts\activate command or environment\Scripts\activate
3. Install external packages with pip install -r requirements.txt command

Alternatively put this sequence into cmd.

python -m venv environment && environment\Scripts\activate && pip install -r requirements.txt

Distribution

Compile to .exe with one of the following commands

• pyinstaller -F -w --onefile -i (Put path to here)"KraussmaffeiLogo.ico" KM_Assembly_Automation.py
• pyinstaller -F -w -i (Put path to here)"KraussmaffeiLogo.ico" KM_Assembly_Automation.py
• pyinstaller -F -i (Put path to here)"KraussmaffeiLogo.ico" KM_Assembly_Automation.py

Sources

• creopyson library - https://github.com/Zepmanbc/creopyson
• creoson application - https://github.com/SimplifiedLogic/creoson