configurations and file management
configurations and file management
(OP)
hi to all of you
this is a strange question.. i'm finishing the library of materials for a company, and i have a doubt on how to proceed for a part..
this company uses metal tubes of different measures long (from 120mm to 1800 mm in 50 variations), with 3 different diameters (13,17,21) and 3 different combination of threads (a,b,c)..
my solution an unique file, with all the (450!!!) configurations inside, so they can change it in the assembly when they are drawing or using a template assembly.. but it's a 50MB file, and i'm sincerely not sure that is the best solution managing great assembly (even if i didn't have any problems in situation like this in the past)
the tree is this one:
9802.130-.0000
9802.130A.0000
9802.130A.0120
...
and so on...
according to you which is the best solution:
- the one i go with
- 3 files (one for 13, one for 17, one for 21)
- 3 files (one for thread A, one for B, one for C)
as i wrote.. this time i'm not sure this is a good deal......................
thanks in advance for the suggestions!
Alvise
this is a strange question.. i'm finishing the library of materials for a company, and i have a doubt on how to proceed for a part..
this company uses metal tubes of different measures long (from 120mm to 1800 mm in 50 variations), with 3 different diameters (13,17,21) and 3 different combination of threads (a,b,c)..
my solution an unique file, with all the (450!!!) configurations inside, so they can change it in the assembly when they are drawing or using a template assembly.. but it's a 50MB file, and i'm sincerely not sure that is the best solution managing great assembly (even if i didn't have any problems in situation like this in the past)
the tree is this one:
9802.130-.0000
9802.130A.0000
9802.130A.0120
...
and so on...
according to you which is the best solution:
- the one i go with
- 3 files (one for 13, one for 17, one for 21)
- 3 files (one for thread A, one for B, one for C)
as i wrote.. this time i'm not sure this is a good deal......................
thanks in advance for the suggestions!
Alvise






RE: configurations and file management
13A
13B
13C
17A
17B
17C
21A
21B
21C
Then vary the length with configurations. It will be much easier to manage than having 150 configurations in each diameter. This way you only have 50 and they are just the length that changes.
RE: configurations and file management
How are the part numbers being handled?
Does the company use a PDM system? If not, do they have plans to?
I would probably opt for multiple configs in which only the length varies.
RE: configurations and file management
Keep in mind that if you are using a PLM tool that if they need to add items between values that this may require a revision for as they are added.
Another solution is to create a tabulated drawing and as they need parts they do a save as from a master part. Helps to prevent someone from forgettting to make sure they have "this configuration" option checked when changing dimensions. Also if htey do that then the mates follow as well. Also eliminates creating lengths that may never get used.
RE: configurations and file management
RE: configurations and file management
RE: configurations and file management
This file should easily float around 1mb... probably less since the part seems rather simple.
One thing I have noticed... when working with design tables and configurations and making lots of changes, the file size tends to get padded. I made a fitting model once and it ended up at over 6mb, which was unacceptable for something I'd be making copies of for each job that called for it... and then I made a copy and it was only a 600kb. It seems to store all the changes you make in the file, but when you copy it to a new file, it just takes into account what it is currently and not how it got there.
RE: configurations and file management
RE: configurations and file management
RE: configurations and file management
CorBl. :
- usually 1 tube per assy
- i can decide the part number
- no, there's no PDM, maybe in 2/3 years they'll have one, but depends also from the production software and from the production manager
so... after a lot of time i decided! 1 file, all the configuraqtion in that file.. because they have an assembly template, and they change on this template the parts in order to configure every assembly (it's a lighting company).. so as CorBl. said, there's a lot of chances to avoid mates problem
but i prepared also the files.. let's see what will happen, THEY have to decide working on what to do!
btw, as u suggested i made a save as... from 60 MB to 1 MB (!!!)... my Solidworks VAR said me about this probl 1 year ago, but i thought it was only a 2008 Bug!!
RE: configurations and file management
THANKS !!!
cause i sincerely appreciate all the help you provide!
Alvise
RE: configurations and file management
I wish we could have those kind of bug swarms in our solidworld :P
anytime
(im sry. maybe a little oftopic here)