Global Edge Documentation
2.4 - Configurator Setup
Global Edge® Engineering Assistant software has a built-in configuration engine that provides the capability to automatically generate routings based on imported CAD part parameters. This section provides the necessary procedures to setup up the Global Edge Configuration Engine. The following is a list of the database tables required to setup the configuration engine which includes the ability to pre-load configuration information through spreadsheet data load files, and/or directly through the Global Edge User Interface:
- This section includes the procedures for setting up the configurator for Automated Routing and Sales Quote Generation that is utilized throughout the Global Edge system. This section is divided into the following sub-sections:
- 2.4.01 - Template Parts, Dimensions, Assemblies
- 2.4.02 - Template Routings
- 2.4.03 - Configuration Rules / Formulas
- 2.4.04 - Template Documents
The setup of the Global Edge Configurator follows the Flow Chart Diagram in Section 2.4.00 – Configurator Setup Table Flow Diagram. This starts with the defining of Template Parts in the “R-270 Inventory Item Master Table” in Section 2.4.01 – Template Parts, Dimensions, Assembles. Once Template Parts are defined, the next step is to add Dimension Parameters, and Dimension Options to each part. This is followed by defining a Bill of Materials structure with the Template parts.
The next step in the Configurator Setup process is to define Template Routings covered in Section 2.4.02 – Template Routings that includes a list of all possible routing steps you want to include for a specific Master Configuration, which in our example we have named as “ROUTING” as our Master Configuration Part Number. Once this step is accomplished, the next step is to define the Configuration Rules / Formulas that will select routing steps based on the criteria you define which is cover in Section 2.4.03 – Configuration Rules / Formulas.
An optional last step is to define Template Documents that will allow you to attach images and other document files to both Template Part Numbers and to configured parts which is covered in Section 2.4.04 – Template Documents.
The next step in the Configurator Setup process is to define Template Routings covered in Section 2.4.02 – Template Routings that includes a list of all possible routing steps you want to include for a specific Master Configuration, which in our example we have named as “ROUTING” as our Master Configuration Part Number. Once this step is accomplished, the next step is to define the Configuration Rules / Formulas that will select routing steps based on the criteria you define which is cover in Section 2.4.03 – Configuration Rules / Formulas.
An optional last step is to define Template Documents that will allow you to attach images and other document files to both Template Part Numbers and to configured parts which is covered in Section 2.4.04 – Template Documents.
2.4.00 - Configurator Setup Table Flow Chart Diagram
2.4.01 - Template Parts, Dimension, Assemblies
This section starts the process of setting up the Global Edge Configurator. The first step in the process is to create Template Part Numbers. The first Template Part Number is the PART #: "ROUTING" which is the top level of the Routing Configurator being defined. Other Template Part Numbers defined in our example are "DEMO-01-STOCK-OP" which will be attached to the "ROUTING" part number one level down in the assembly and is referred to as a "STOCK OPTIONS LIST" that includes available material stock. One more level down in the assembly are the Template Part Numbers for the material stock available. Our example includes the following Template Part Numbers for materials which includes: "304-4", "304-2B”, “CRS”, “316-2B”, “5052-H32”.
Step 1: The first step is to open the Global Edge Engineering Assistant software by clicking on the following desktop icon:
Step 2: This will display the following splash screen and menu options:
Step 3: The following Template Parts were added to the database to serve as the first step and foundation for setting up the Global Edge Routing Configurator by adding the “ROUTING”, “DEMO-01-STOCK-OP”, “304-4”, “304-2B”, “CRS”, “316-2B”, “5052-H32” Template Part Numbers:
Menu Sequence: “Engineering > BOM / Product Configuration > Find > Part > OK”Load File: (R-270-dem_invt.unl – Table Name: inventory)
Step 4: The next step in setting up the Global Edge Routing Configurator is to build an assembly structure. Select the “Find > Part” option and select the “ROUTING” part number:
Step 5: Select the “Dimensions” option to display the Dimension Parameters for the “ROUTING” part number:
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Load File: (R-095-dem_dimn.unl – Table Name: dimension)
Step 6: The next step is to add Dimension Options for Dimensions 49 through 64. When at the PART menu with the “ROUTING” Template Part Number, select the “Options > Dimensions > Update” option and add the following Dimension Options to the following Dimensions:
Load File: (R-091-dem_dmop.unl – Table Name: dim_options)
Step 7: Select the “BOM” option to display the assembly structure for the “ROUTING” part number:
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Load File: (R-026-dem_assm.unl – Table Name: assembly)
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Step 8: As Dimension Parameters are added to the “ROUTING” Template Part Number, the Assembly Dimension Table is automatically populated in the background by the Global Edge software:
Load File: (R-030-dem_adim.unl – Table Name: assm_dimen)
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2.4.02 - Template Routings
This section is to establish Template Routings that includes a master list of possible routing steps that are specifically selected based on defined Configuration Rules / Formulas (refer to Section 2.4.04 – Configuration Rules / Formulas) as the Configurator executes to generated selected routing steps.
Step 9: The next step is to add Template Routings Header to the Template Part Number “ROUTING”:
Menu Sequence: “Engineering > BOM / Product Configuration > Find > Part > OK > BOM > Routings”
Load File: (R-146-dem_parr.unl – Table Name: part_route)
Step 10: After adding the Template Routings Header, the next step is to add the available routing steps that will be selected based on the Configuration Rules / Formulas as defined in Section 2.4.04:
Menu Sequence: “Engineering > BOM / Product Configuration > Find > Part > OK > BOM > Routings > Add”
Load File: (R-129-dem_itpr.unl – Table Name: item_proc)
2.4.03 - Configuration Rules / Formulas
This section allows you define Configuration Rules / Formulas for the Template Routing defined in Section 2.4.02 – Template Routings. These Rules / Formulas will determine whether a specific routing step is selected based on the CAD Part Parameters included with a specific part, typically a sheet metal part, but can include any type of manufactured or fabricated part.
Step 11: After adding the Template Routing Steps in the previous section, the next step is to define Configuration Rules / Formulas that will select the routing step utilizing imported CAD part parameters:
Menu Sequence: “Update > OK”
Step 12: After adding the Template Routing Steps in the previous section, the next step is to define Configuration Rules / Formulas that will select the routing step utilizing imported CAD part parameters:
Menu Sequence: “Update > F10-Process Time > F6-Formula”
Load File: (R-059-dem_cfgf.unl – Table Name: cfg_formula)
Configuration Formula (R-059) Table (Process Rules)
Configuration Formula (R-059) Table (Process Rules)
"SHEAR" Process Formula:
"PUNCH" Process Formula:
"EMBOSS" Process Formula:
"LASER-CUT" Process Formula:
"BEND" Process Formula:
"PANELBEND" Process Formula:
"INSTALL-PEM-NUTS" Process Formula:
"INSTALL-PEM-STUDS" Process Formula:
"TIG-WELD" Process Formula:
"MID-WELD" Process Formula:
"DEBURR" Process Formula:
"GRAIN" Process Formula:
"SAND-PAINT-PREP" Process Formula:
"HANGING" Process Formula:
"WASHING" Process Formula:
"PAINTING" Process Formula:
"CURING" Process Formula:
"ASSEMBLY" Process Formula:
"RIVET" Process Formula:
"GASKETING" Process Formula:
"GENERAL-LABOR" Process Formula:
"FINAL-INSPECT" Process Formula:
"PACKAGE" Process Formula:
"SHIPPING" Process Formula:
Step 13: The next step is to return to the PART menu and retrieve Part Number “DEMO-01-STOCK-OP”:
Step 14: Select “BOM” option to display the following screen form and menu options:
Step 15: Select “Update” option and select the first sub-component on the DEMO STOCK OPTIONS LIST:
Step 16: Select “OK” to display the following screen form and menu options:
Step 17: Select “Update > F6-Formula” to display the following screen form and menu options:
Load File: (R-059-dem_cfgf.unl – Table Name: cfg_formula)
Configuration Formula (R-059) Table (Quantity Rules)
Configuration Formula (R-059) Table (Quantity Rules)
"304-2B" Quantity Formula:
"304-4" Quantity Formula:
"316-2B" Quantity Formula:
"5052-H32" Quantity Formula:
"CRS" Quantity Formula:
Configuration Formula (R-059) Table (Dimension Rules)
2.4.04 - Template Documents
Step 18: After defining Template Parts, Assemblies, and Dimensions, the optional next step is to define Template Documents which includes the documents listed below:
Menu Sequence: “Engineering > Document Control > Documents > Find”Load File: (R-112-dem_docu.unl – Table Name: document)
Step 19: After defining Template Documents, the next step is to attach them to part numbers contained in the Global Edge database.
Menu Sequence: “Engineering > BOM / Product Configuration > Find > Part > Document”Load File: (R-197-dem_shee.unl – Table Name: sheet)
Menu Sequence: “Engineering > BOM / Product Configuration > Find > Part > Document”Load File: (R-197-dem_shee.unl – Table Name: sheet)
