CadActiveSupport

howto

ECAD Model Builder

Create a Creo part, assembly, or drawing from a CadActive model template using the ECAD ribbon.

ECAD Model Builder is File → New from a CadActive model template, started from the CadActive ECAD group. The new part, assembly, or drawing starts with the organization’s start model plus the template’s parameters, notes, views, and relations.

It is the same Model Builder - by CadActive dialog as Standardize Model Builder. Open it from ECAD when you are creating a board-related model. Open it from Standardize when you are creating a general part, assembly, or drawing. Do not use both on the same new file. Full field reference: Model Builder.

Open ECAD Model Builder

  1. In Creo, open the CadActive ribbon.

  2. In the ECAD group, select ECAD Model Builder.

The command is available with a part, assembly, or drawing active, or with no model open. You need an ECAD license and a CadActive server session.

Create a model

  1. Set Model Type: Part, Assembly, or Drawing.

  2. Set Model Subtype when your organization uses subtypes. The template list filters to matching templates.

  3. Choose Model Template.

  4. If you are creating a drawing, set Desired Model — the part or assembly the drawing is of.

  5. Set Name Formula (literal text and optional parameter tokens) and confirm Model Name. The dialog shows length and warns if the name contains illegal characters.

  6. Select OK.

Some organizations see extra rows on board templates (for example assembly family name, board family name, thickness, socket model, socket blank, socket sites, and inlay model). Fill those only when they appear. Day-to-day board name, thickness, sockets, fasteners, and inlay after the model exists are on ECAD Board Setup—not this dialog.

Show Settings

Select Show Settings in the footer to reveal Use Templates from Database (on by default). Leave it checked so Model Builder uses CadActive templates.

What ECAD Model Builder does not do

  • It does not apply a template onto an already-built model. That is Apply Model Templates in Standardize.

  • It does not validate ECAD areas or place drawing notes and dimensions.

  • It does not replace ECAD Board Name or ECAD Board Thickness on an existing board.