OTS Component Etiquette
The purpose of this guide is to describe how to properly download models for OTS components and insert them into GrabCAD with proper etiquette. If you have any questions, feel free to message the author of this guide Austin Tailon Huang on discord!
Downloading OTS Components
- When downloading an OTS component from a supplier website, the part will almost always be either a Solidworks part file (.SLDPRT) or a step file (.stp)
- If the OTS component is a .SLDPRT, skip ahead to Step 4.
- If the OTS component is a step file. open the model in Solidworks. For this example, I've opened the step file for one of the ebox fans. As you can see in the feature tree, when you open a step file it opens as a Solidworks part file that is externally linked to an imported feature from the step file. Leaving the OTS component as a regular step file is not ideal, as it makes it leads to some load in complications when you use step files in assemblies. So, instead and we want to make sure all OTS components are regular Solidworks parts.
- Right click the linked feature in the tree, and click "Dissolve Feature".
- Confirm the link break in the resultant pop-up.
- Click File → Save As → Save the new part to your desired location
- You will know you did this step correctly if the feature tree is filled with imported bodies.
- Now that you have a .SLDPRT file for your OTS component, go ahead and rename the file to follow our OTS component naming scheme. OTS components are named under the following convention: "(SUPPLIER NAME) #(SUPPLIER P/N)". Don't forget to include the space between the supplier name and the number sign!
- Here is an example of how the OTS fan shown in step 3 is named in GrabCAD. The supplier is digikey, and the digikey part number is P14695-ND. As such, the file is named:
- Here is an example of how the OTS fan shown in step 3 is named in GrabCAD. The supplier is digikey, and the digikey part number is P14695-ND. As such, the file is named:
- Next, after you've renamed the .SLDPRT file go ahead and open it up. Open up the part's data sheet on the supplier's website, and change the material of the OTS component in it's CAD file to reflect the actual material of the part as closely as possible.
- The OTS fan in the ebox has plastic listed as it's material on Digikey's website. As such, I've selected "Custom Plastic" as the material for the fan.
- The OTS fan in the ebox has plastic listed as it's material on Digikey's website. As such, I've selected "Custom Plastic" as the material for the fan.
- Finally, while you still have the OTS component open, manually configure the weight of the part to reflect it's data sheet. Click the evaluate tab → Mass Properties → Override Mass Properties → Override Mass check box → Enter the mass → OK.
- For the OTS fan example, the datasheet lists its weight as 135.17 grams.
- For the OTS fan example, the datasheet lists its weight as 135.17 grams.
- Save all changes you have made and close the part.
Saving OTS Components in GrabCAD
- Saving OTS components in GrabCAD is pretty straight forward. Make sure that the part is properly named as described above, then navigate to the "OTS Components" folder for the system you are working on.
- Navigate to the correct supplier folder. If there isn't a supplier folder for the part you are saving, create one.
- Continuing with the OTS fan example used previously in this guide, going to navigate to the Digikey supplier folder in the Electrical Box
- Continuing with the OTS fan example used previously in this guide, going to navigate to the Digikey supplier folder in the Electrical Box
- Save the OTS component in the correct supplier folder. Make sure you pull the OTS component from this specific location when used in assembly.
