Legacy Drawing Associator (LDA) in Creo
What is LDA?
The Legacy Drawing Associator (LDA) is a powerful tool in Creo Parametric’s Drawing Mode that automates the association of 2D drawings with 3D models. It ensures seamless migration of legacy drawings (e.g., from IGES, CATIA, SolidWorks, or NX) into Creo by:
- Auto-mapping models to drawings of the same name.
- Preserving annotations (dimensions, GTOL, notes, surface finishes).
- Validating associations between 2D views and 3D entities.
Key Features of LDA
1. Automatic Tasks
- Model-Drawing Pairing: Links drawings to models with matching names.
- View/Entity Mapping: Maps 2D views to 3D model views and entities.
- Annotation Migration: Copies legacy dimensions, notes, and symbols as associative Creo annotations.
2. Interactive Capabilities
LDA’s Legacy Migration tab provides tools to:
- Create and orient 2D views (orthographic, auxiliary, detailed).
- Add dimensions, geometric tolerances (GTOL), and surface finish symbols.
- Insert custom symbols from the palette or redefine existing ones.
- Validate associations between 2D and 3D entities.
- Clean up drawings by hiding mapped entities.
LDA Workflow Step-by-Step
Step 1: Prepare Files
- Ensure the drawing and model share the same name (e.g.,
part1.drw↔part1.prt). - For multiple files, create a .csv map file and set the
lda_map_fileconfig option.
Step 2: Import the Drawing
- Open a legacy drawing (e.g.,
.igs,.dwg). - Enable Import Associative Dimensions in the Import IGES dialog.
- LDA searches for the model in:
- The session.
- Working directory/subfolders.
- Manually browsed locations (if names differ).
Step 3: Use the Legacy Migration Tab
LDA’s tabs streamline the migration process:
| Tab | Functionality |
|---|---|
| Map | Auto-associates models, maps views/annotations, copies ordinate dimensions. |
| Views | Create 2D views; match 3D model views to 2D views using references. |
| Model Views | Place orthographic, auxiliary, or detailed views after model association. |
| Annotations | Add dimensions, GTOL, notes, or surface finishes; match unmapped legacy annotations. |
| Utilities/Settings | Validate associations via Validate LDA Associations dialog; clean up drawings. |
| Annotation Converter | Convert 2D annotations to 3D model annotations. |
Step 4: Validate & Clean Up
- Use Utilities > Validate LDA Associations to check mappings.
- Hide mapped entities on layers for a clutter-free drawing.
Pro Tips for LDA
- For CATIA/SolidWorks/NX Models: Open non-Creo models in session first.
- Name Consistency: Rename files if LDA fails to auto-pair (e.g.,
partA.drw→partA.prt). - Batch Processing: Use
.csvfiles for large migrations. - Troubleshooting: If annotations don’t map, manually match them under the Annotations tab.
When to Use LDA?
LDA is ideal for:
✅ Migrating legacy drawings to Creo.
✅ Preserving associative dimensions/annotations.
✅ Batch-processing large sets of 2D/3D files.
Limitations:
❌ Requires exact file names or a map file.
❌ Complex GTOL/symbols may need manual adjustments.
Conclusion
LDA bridges the gap between legacy 2D data and modern 3D workflows in Creo. By automating associations and providing interactive tools, it reduces manual rework and ensures design intent is preserved.
#Creo #LDA #CADMigration #EngineeringDesign
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