It is possible in the Eplan parts management to create and manage "supplemental parts" by means of the "Supplemental parts" record type. Supplemental parts can be a component of assemblies or modules or can be added as accessories. In assemblies and modules, supplemental parts are used as placeholders, additional information or virtual components. An essential feature of the supplemental parts is their systematic separation from the rest of the parts inventory. For example, they cannot be placed or ordered as independent parts.
Supplemental parts are typically used for the following purposes:
- To provide additional technical information such as material, surface, color or dimensions
- To fulfill documentation purposes, for example for the identification of mounting aids, placeholders or properties that are relevant for the manufacturing data export.
Display and evaluation of supplemental parts
The Suppress in bill of materials property is selected on the Properties tab for supplemental parts. This cannot be changed. This means that supplemental parts are neither displayed as individual parts in the bill of materials navigator nor output in the corresponding part assemblies ("Parts list", "Summarized parts list", etc.) and are also not exported via the interfaces for manufacturing data.
Supplemental parts are not displayed as individual parts in the following locations:
- Insert center
- Part selection / device selection
- Part master data navigator
Component of assemblies or modules
Supplemental parts can be selected during the part selection for assemblies and modules. In order to differentiate between components and supplemental parts in assemblies and modules, the Record type column is available in the Assembly and Module tabs.
Tip:
A DT ID can be assigned to each supplemental part in the Assembly tab of the parts management as a subpart of an assembly. The DT ID can be used to carry out an assignment between the subparts of an assembly and the elements of a macro. If such an assembly with assigned 3D macro or schematic macro is inserted as a device into a layout space or onto a schematic page (for example from the Insert center), the subparts of the assembly are assigned to the components in the macro (device in the schematic macro, 3D part placement in the 3D macro) by means of the matching DT ID. Since the supplemental parts cannot be selected during the device selection, the supplemental parts can be added to the appropriate locations via the DT ID when inserting the assemblies.
Taking supplemental parts into account when breaking up assemblies or modules
Supplemental parts can only be output as a component of assemblies and modules, for example when breaking up in the part assemblies as well as during the manufacturing data export. To this purpose the assemblies and modules have to be broken up during the respective action.
In order for the supplemental parts to be output you must also have activated the setting Include supplemental parts. This is possible at the following points in the program:
- At the assembly or module itself
(Parts management dialog in the Assembly tab and Module tab) - In the report templates for parts lists and summarized parts lists
(Reports dialog in the Templates tab) - In the settings for part assemblies
(Settings: Parts dialog) - During the export of manufacturing data / output of labeling data for the "Parts list" and "Summarized parts list" report types
(Settings: Manufacturing data export / labeling dialog in the Settings tab) - When generating device pages in the PDF export
(Settings: PDF export dialog in the Part properties tab)
Depending on the context, the setting is also called Include supplemental parts (assemblies), Include supplemental parts (parts list), etc. This makes it clear to which part record type or report it refers.
For general information on breaking up modules and assemblies, please refer to the section "Breaking up Modules and Assemblies".
Supplemental parts as accessories
A supplemental part can be an accessory part or component of an accessory list. It is therefore also possible to activate the Part is accessory setting for a supplemental part on the Accessories tab.
Data exchange
Supplemental parts are taken into consideration when exporting and importing in EDZ or XML format and can be modified via different editing methods (external editing, Eplan API).
It is possible during the manufacturing data export to use supplemental parts to transfer specific technical information such as the material or the material thickness that is decisive for the selection of the right machining tools (for example milling cutter, drill, etc.). This means that supplemental parts have a central role for 3D design and the data exchange with manufacturing systems (e.g. with the Rittal - RiPanel Processing Center).
See also