KB90505472: ArtiosCAD - How to add a 3D Header to a Bill of Materials Output

Description

In ArtiosCAD when creating multi-piece components, e.g. displays, and using ArtiosCAD Projects, it may be beneficial to include a 3D representation of the assembled component on a Bill of Materials report. To do this, we will leverage a lesser known reports/file window feature where you can use the same File Number for a Design File Window and an A3D File Window.  The result is that the A3D window will contain the 3D representation for the corresponding design file. To create the 3D representation, ArtiosCAD will first look for an A3D file with the same name and in the same directory/resource as the design file. If this A3D file does not exist, ArtiosCAD will attempt to automatically convert the design to 3D by using any previously saved fold angles in the design.  If either method fails, no image is shown.

Note that for a Bill of Materials report, file window 1 will be the first document as listed and checked in the Project Documents dialog, as shown below:

Procedure

To add a single instance of 3D file in the header of a Bill of Materials Report:

1. Add a 3D File Window on the Bill of Materials Report, outside of a Bill of Materials Table.

2. Set the File number for the 3D File Window to 1 as shown below:                                                                                                                                     

3. This will produce a 3D representation of the first entry in the Project BOM as shown in the example below: