Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
(OP)
Is ToolBox an effective "browser" for standard parts when used with PDM? I need to get my brain wrapped snugly around this before I spend a lot of hours implementing it. From my short-time with PDM (about a week) I can tell that it will be a pain in the a$$ to browse for standard parts with the FILE EXPLORER. There has to be a better way.
Windows XP / Wireless Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2007 SP1.0 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com
Windows XP / Wireless Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2007 SP1.0 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com






RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
IMO, you should have a central location for toolbox parts so that you don't have to go digging around for them. You can then have your default settings look for said parts in that directory, as well as SW Explorer.
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP1.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2MB RAM, nVidia 2500M
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
Do a search for PDMWorks here. Lots of discussion on it.
Chris
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-27-06)
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
Windows XP / Wireless Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2007 SP1.0 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP1.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2MB RAM, nVidia 2500M
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
Windows XP / Wireless Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2007 SP1.0 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
Actually, this could all be moot anyway. I work for a manufacturing company where our common parts (screws, nuts, washers, etc.) are used repeatedly across multiple products. Where you're doing custom work, your method probably works best for you...
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP1.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2MB RAM, nVidia 2500M
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
Windows XP / Wireless Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2007 SP1.0 / SpaceBall 5000
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
I have toolbox set up here to "Always Create Copies". You can set this option in the Browser Configuration under Document Properties. Essentially what happens is that each time a user wants to use a fastener or standard item, toolbox generates the geometry for the item and saves the part file as a distinct and separate copy (outside of the toolbox database). Jeff mentioned that toolbox is more of a creator than a browser, and I would agree when you have the option set to copy. I set toolbox up this way for many reasons, some of which may be moot points as improvements have been made to toolbox and PDMWorks. We use PDMWorks in house and the advantage of creating copies of parts and checking those items into PDMWorks is that PDMWorks becomes our browser. I have set up folders/projects in the vault for standard items that would have been generated by toolbox. All users here know that if they need a standard type part, the first place to look is in the vault in our appropriate folders. If one is not foud there, then they generate and document it correctly, use it in their assembly, and check it into the vault for everyone else to use. PDMWorks is essentially becoming our toolbox browser. Another advantage is that we can see all where used information on each standard part. Toolbox can be set up to be the database of parts using the power of configurations and through the access database that toolbox is working off, but in my opinion this adds a level of complexity in our environment that just doesn't really pay off. I'd rather have distinct copies of parts that we manage ourselves, rather than through configurations managed through an add-in program in concert with an access database. There are other downsides to the toolbox methodology that have been slowly addressed somewhat by SolidWorks in past releases. Back in 2001+ when I implemented SolidWorks and PDMWorks here, the always create copy option was the best way to do all that we needed. Toolbox was a kludge back then, and in some ways still is. The methodolgy we have in place here was and still is the cleanest and simplest approach to creating, managing, and sharing standard parts. Hope what I said makes sense. I'd be willing to expound a little more if you are interested.
Pete
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
I've been resisting putting toolbox parts into PDMWorks but, after reading your reasoning, I'm going to stop resisting.
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP1.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Toolbox & PDMWorks Workgroup
Pete