Methods to Effectively Reuse the Design Data

Have we ever imagined how many workman hours we lose in trying to Reuse the Data which is supposed to be saving the time and money instead of losing them? It includes time spent on,

•  Searching right version of the data among many file versions created by our team members.

•  Finding missing references of data.

•  Recreating the File/Folder structure.

•  Maintaining Filenames/Folder names.

The losses may sum up nearly the savings we make from data reuse. Hence it needs a system that is as much effective as possible to ease the pain and improve the Return of Investment spent on maintaining and reusing the older project files. The system we are proposing for this data reuse is SOLIDWORKS Product Data Management. Being a proven data management solution, SOLIDWORKS PDM provides excellent data management and reuse tools like Search tools, copy tree, Branching and Merging.

SOLIDWORKS PDM Search Tools:

The initial time-consuming process in data reuse is running searches for various files and its references. To overcome this SOLIDWORKS PDM provides two kinds of search options – Embedded Search and PDM Complete Search Tool. The Embedded Search is same as we have in windows explorer that runs search for files and folder whereas the PDM Search tool provides a flexible and customizable search options. The Search keyworks can be filenames, folder names, file extensions and meta data combined with Operators like AND, OR & NOT. The SOLIDWORKS PDM Search tool provides a separate window exclusively with,
1. Search Toolbar – provides options like Run, Stop, Delete & Save searches.
2. Search Favorites – lists the frequently made searches and searches added to favorites list.
3. Searches – lists the different default and customized Search Cards based searches.
4. Search in Vaults – lists all the available vaults to make searches in multiple vaults at same time.
5. Search Form – Displays form of selected search card where we can provide search criteria.
6. Results – Lists the files and folders relevant to the search criteria we provided in search form.
7. Tabs – Shows file preview, data card, Version details, Bill of Materials, etc.

Note: The Embedded Search is available both in SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard as well as PDM Professional Whereas the Complete Search tools is available only in SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional.

Copy Tree Dialog Box:

Once finding the right data is a success, the next step is extracting the data without missing any file references and organizing them with proper file name and folder structure. For this, SOLIDWORKS PDM provides a tool called Copy Tree which acts similar to the SOLIDWORKS Pack and Go tool. Here the major difference is Copy tree tool can preserve the folder structure for parent and child reference files with Preserve Relative Path option. Also, PDM features like regenerating Serial Numbers for file Number, replacing file name with Serial Number, File Warnings, Check-in options are available with which projects can be copied and organized as per our requirement. The file versions can be either the version of the selected file or the latest version. Copied files can be developed as a new project without affecting the source data.

Note: SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional has a similar tool called Move Tree which moves the Selected file and entire file structure to the destination location.

Branching and Merging:

Branching a file is like taking a copy of source file to work with for a sustained development period and later merging it with the source file to combine the file as a new version to the source file. This can be done to both CAD and Non-CAD documents. The same source file can be branched many times. The branched files can also be re- branched if needed. The branching and merging dialog box are similar to Copy Tree dialog box with all the options available similarly. In addition, branching dialog box will have a separate test box for providing a name to the branch operation. The branching operation will be recorded to the history of the file so that it can be referenced in future. Merging dialog box will provide no option for destination file location since the files will be merged only to the source file in the source file location. With branching and merging source data can be reused to build a separate project as a version of source project and later if needed both projects can be merged to make the source project as a updated revision. Hence Branching and Merging not only provides data reuse capability but also the older data replacement capability for minimizing duplicate file stack-up inside the vault

THANK YOU FOR READING!

SOLIDWOKRS TECH TIP - SOLIDWORKS PROPERTY TAB BUILDER

The Property Tab Builder is a stand-alone utility that you use to create a customized interface for entering properties into SOLIDWORKS files.

Traditionally, designer's use to modify the drawing template to insert custom property such as Description, Part No, Material, it’s a manual method. so, designers have to modify the custom property or metadata on each time, simultaneously BOM creation is also manual which increases a run time and errors in BOM table. It's also delayed the release of entire project.

Three ways to create a customized interface for property template.

• In the SOLIDWORKS software, on the Custom Properties tab in the Task Pane, click Create now.
• In the SOLIDWORKS software, on the SOLIDWORKS Resources tab of the Task Pane, click Property Tab Builder
• From the Windows Start menu, click All Programs > SOLIDWORKS version > SOLIDWORKS Tools > Property Tab Builder version.

To create the property tab, you will need to first create a new file inside of SOLIDWORKS. A new application window called the Property Tab Builder will pop up. In Property tab builder have three columns.
The left side column is a list of types of properties can be used. Mid column is what will be shown in SOLIDWORKS when the property tab is ready. The right column is the options/settings for each parameter.

Group Box: The Group box is essentially a container that allows you to group the other items.Textbox: This item accepts free-form text and stores it as an associated property.
List: List boxes present users with a list of predefined values that once selected will be stored.
Number: A number box accepts only number inputs to store as a property.
Checkbox: With a checkbox you can have the user select between two predefined values to place as a property.
Radio: Radio buttons allow you to define a selection of up to three predefined values that can be used to show or hide elements in the dialog.

By Assigning attributes to the properties. You will get final Property Box.

To Save the tab templates in the same location as the properties.txt file. You can create multiple templates for each document type. The file extension indicates the template type
➢ . PRTPRP for part
➢ . ASMPRP for assemblies
➢ . DRWPRP for drawings
➢ . WLDPRP for Weldments

This is done the same way you would for your custom templates. But instead you’ll select the “custom property files” in System Options > File locations.

You can see the applied properties in file property in below image.

Property Tab Builder lets you to create your specified properties in a single window and can be share it to all users so that properties can be applied by a single click, resulting in saving design time.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

Do More than Just Visualize with Assembly Visualization

Ever since its introduction in SOLIDWORKS 2010, Assembly Visualization has been a excellent tool to display components in an assembly based on different criteria using colors.

Assembly Visualization can be used as an interactive BOM in which you can see file name, quantity, mass, material, volume, density etc.,

  

²Add colors to visualize the model property values.

²You can add new columns to show other properties of the model.

Lets just add a new column to link SW-Material

 

²You can sort the assembly visualization based on the properties in different columns.

²Another great option available inside Assembly Visualization is we can directly apply materials to parts.

²Use the Rollback bar to show only necessary components in Assembly Visualization

²Other Tree options

 

²Starting from SOLIDWORKS 2018, you can directly access Performance Analysis option inside Assembly Visualization.

  

And sort based on Graphics Triangle, Open time, rebuild time.

  

²Another great option is that you can save this style. Instead of adding/editing the new column, you can load this style for future display of Assembly Visualization

²You can also save this as Excel, Text or PDF and publish this a Bill of Materials as Top-level, Parts only or Indented.

 

  With Assembly Visualization you can evaluate you assembly performance and sort by component properties and more.

 

DDM - A better Approach to PDM

DDM for SOLIDWORKS
          DDM is a low cost multi-CAD, PDM/PLM solution that’s easy to implement, easy to integrate and user-friendly, giving you a quick turnaround on your investment.

We are changing perceptions of PDM & PLM

• Product Lifecycle Management & revision control of parts, models, drawings and office documents and even more solutions can capture through powerful Multi CAD data management with lowest cost.
• The main simple terms which focuses mainly on DDM like efficient implementation, fun and speed, configurable adaptability, multiple system collaborations and majorly on price".

DDM Product Module

DDM CAD [Editor]

• Whilst focusing on ease of use and keeping data management uncomplicated, DDM has an access to control and secure the data which is more powerful and built in tools.
• It takes minimal time for searching and seeking for files which has been generated in our 3D CAD application and enable us to focus more on design.
• Automatic thumbnail and PDF generation
• Configurable auto-numbering
• Revision control CAD parts, assemblies and drawings
• You can always trust the data in DDM is up to date.

DDM Office [Contributor]

• DDM Office: Helps to access, update and review all our information to maintain the day to day document and project data management.
• DDM Office can be used for non-design staff to access design information and view CAD parts and drawings which are saved in PDF format allowing information to flow freely between departments.

Key Features and Benefits

• Bill of Materials and Enterprise Update Manager
• Full Document Management
• Graphical Workflow Tool
• Powerful search and retrieval facility
• Guarantee you are working on the latest information
• Avoid duplication of effort and information

DDM Web [Viewer] 

• We ensure data integrity and secure access
• Get access to your data 24/7 from a web browser
• Real time sharing of data on a global scale
• Little to no user training requirement

Major Features and Benefits

Life Science Products & Projects with SOLIDWORKS Solutions

     Life sciences & Healthcare Industry is considered to be one of the most expensive market in terms of Product Development and Innovation, ensuring Safety and Reliability of Products to mankind.

     Medical device and equipment manufacturers will undergo various regulations and norms for the product development. In order to continue the process by overcoming all the hurdles and investing more time on innovation, SOLIDWORKS provides an integrated Data management, Collaboration and Technical communication solution from Design to after sales.

Challenges faced in Medical Industry:

• Difficulty in managing product related Data & Files (Parts, Assemblies, Drawings, Standards, Reference Documents) across the Design & Development process
• Unable to track Legacy data & Existing Designs for new equipment and device Concept
• Managing Revisions & Versions in existing Projects is complicated
• Collaboration of ECAD and MCAD as well as Bill of materials
• Unable to collaborate with multiple locations of an organizations
• Data segregation and accessibility between Departments
• Demoing the Exploded View of the Device and Understanding the Mechanisms
• Difficulties in delivering the right assembly Instructions to assembly line
• Communicating the right information to the Service engineers & Creating Service Manuals

SOLIDWORKS Solutions:

• Creating and maintaining your Product development data in a single data location with a secured vault where the design engineers can Store and retrieve files
• Integrated file Preview, Powerful Searching, File Structure and File rename features of PDM helps you to reuse the existing Project Information (to eliminate recreating designs).

• Manage Design revisions more effectively to track design revisions and maintain a complete revision history to avoid the errors of manual approaches.
• Companies having Design teams working in different locations can collaborate with Single Vault storage, Automatic alerts, Web connection to access files globally with browser and internet.

• Now with SOLIDWORKS COMPOSER, Animate and visualise to explore about your Product in Exploded Views and also give usage instructions to Patients and Medical Representatives
• Demonstrate clearly and present your product or process using 2D and 3D graphical content including interactive BOM’S
• Illustrate and transfer a high-quality images and even interactive servicing information to prepare Technical documents like manuals and catalogue.

Benefits:

• Smart and Powerful Integration of SOLIDWORKS and Windows
• Easy find and re-use design data no matter how older it is
• Secured access within the organization both domestic and international
• Automated approval process & work flow
• Reduce documentation costs by at 25 %
• Adds life to documentation with interactive 3D animations.