05/07/2020 Update: v2 code attached. SW2019 required. Sample part and drawing (with linked properties attached.

03/30/2020 Update: v1 code attached. SW2019 required.

Sheet 

Gauge Tracker (SGT) is a utility that links the sheet metal gauge name to the thickness.

SGT also tracks the part's material to ensure the values listed in the gauge table are valid since gauges are material dependent.

The data required for this is stored in the gauge table Excel file:

Since the gauge table probably uses regions, all of the SGT data has a blank column separating it from the data SW uses.

Valid materials are a pipe separated list so multiple materials can be used for the same gauge table, where applicable, but each name must be a literal match to the SW material name.

The mismatch text can be edited here, too.

If there is a sheet metal feature and a gauge table is used, the thickness determines the current row and the corresponding gauge name value from column E is read and assigned to a custom property (if the current SW material matches one of those in the gauge table).

If the materials don't match, the gauge name property is blanked and the mismatch property is populated instead.

(I made the gauge name column variable as my column A, what's shown in the sheet metal feature, is a concatenation of the thickness and gauge name columns. If you run with the standard gauge table, then E would be changed to A.

Other columns and rows are variable as these are under the control of SW.)

If there's no sheet metal or gauge table, both properties get blanked.

Only the gauge tables are "special".

Part files just get specific custom properties added for linkage in drawings (or PDM?).

The downside to this approach is that the gauge table must exist for it to be read even though SW stores its gauge table data in the part file for portability.

SGT can be added to this and until the table changes, changes in gauge would be read from the part file.

Ideally, SGT would be incorporated into the sheet metal feature and the data checked on feature exit.

It would also need a tie-in with the material to capture an SW material change and do a comparison.

Upcoming V2:

I've written, but haven't yet tested version 2.

V2 adds the "Material Stock Number" (MSN) shown above, allowing you to assign linked internal numbers to the stock material.

Since an SGT gauge table can represent multiple materials, as shown above for SST 304 & 316, multiple MSN columns are required, one for each material in cell I5.

The MSN numbers, in column order, must match the material order in I5.

So, when 4 gauge 304 is active, the MSN is "MSN0003A-011" (my made up number).

Change to 4 gauge 316 and save the file and the MSN is "MSN0003B-011" (and the gauge name is "4 GAUGE").

Give it a try and let SW know what you think.

Maybe SW will incorporate this into the software (‌).

I'll post back when (& if) v2 is stable.

Kevin