Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
(OP)
I'd like to get a few ideas from you guys about making an online catalog of our standard designs. Right now, we can see everything in our 'Design Library', but its not very user friendly. I'm thinking of something along the lines of a web page, with pics and generic descriptions, that drill down to a specific assembly.
For example, the main page would have 'Mezzanines' on it, which when clicked, would then give several different styles of 'Mezzanines' to choose from. Once the user selects the correct assembly, it would open in SW.
Seems easy enough to just do a couple simple html pages with hyperlinks, but thought there may be a few better ideas.
Thanks in advance,
For example, the main page would have 'Mezzanines' on it, which when clicked, would then give several different styles of 'Mezzanines' to choose from. Once the user selects the correct assembly, it would open in SW.
Seems easy enough to just do a couple simple html pages with hyperlinks, but thought there may be a few better ideas.
Thanks in advance,






RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Your I.T. dept can set up a web page for you to add your files and make it available only for SW users.
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
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Heckler
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RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Thanks for the responses.
Chris, I am the IT guy
What I mean by 'user friendly' is the little display icons don't show enough info to make a decision on. Using the mezzanine example again, we have a 10' and a 12' version, which you can't tell by the icons in the deign library.
This will strictly be used by the internal designers. We are expanding our 'standards' to a great deal, so it would be easier to have a 'layman's' term scenario for them to choose from.
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Do you have PDM Works? PDM works for us to drill down through assemblies. We also get where used. A lot of times we get a part off a machine from somewhere. We need to change the assembly. PDM will find the place it is used.
Bradley
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Wes C.
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
The Design Library has separate folders (ie.e Screws, Nuts, Cases, etc). These folders can be located on a server and each users Design Library linked to them. All you do is click and drag, sort of like Toolbox.
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
we do have PDMWorks, and we do have a naming convention, but these are not part files, they are complete, stand-alone sub-assemblies, built up from several parts.
The issue is, the 12' mezzanine is called RS-100-1 and the 10' one is called RS-100-2, etc. The naming convention does not include descriptors, so thats why I'm looking for a more user friendly method.
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Not to harp on this, but the design library can be quite customized. You may be able to insert a special field in the part/assembly properties that calls out a more detailed description when the assy is hightlighted in the task plane.
Wes C.
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Rail Mounting Length No. of Full Length Slots
640474-12 2.00 2
640474-10 2.25 2
640474-18 2.50 2
Bradley
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
I thank you all for your ideas, but perhaps I am not relaying the depth of our library. These are 'standard assemblies', not parts, and we have 100s of them, and soon 1000s. So the 'design library' does not cut it. Configs does not cut it, etc.
I can't have 30 guys looking thru folder desriptions for what they need, only to realize they missed a better choice, ya know.
Seems I have my answer, namely, a html driven website.
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Good luck.
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Jason
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Bradley
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
I did mention we use PDMWorks, so thats not an issue.
Really guys, we seem to be going in circles here. I do not like the design library. How do you find something based on pre-determined properties? You need to know something exists so you know what to look for. Imagine someone walking in from the street (well, a new contractor), are you gonna expect him know what keywords to use? Would it not be easier to have an intuitive page that asks the right questions to narrow down what you're looking for?
Much like any of the CAD download sites I've seen, they ask for generic things, that then narrow it down to a specific (i.e., NSK things are grouped by product line, then drills down to specifics)
RE: Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716