PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
(OP)
Hi,
I’m an experienced Die Designer and newbie to NX. I logged-in to this forum after a long time. (Used to be a SWx user)
My goal is to become a power-user with NX’s PDW, with an efficient throughput (automating all the repetitive and obvious work, the way I used to work before). Looking at the threads and comments here I notice that NX’s PDW is not quite popular among the users.
Am I chasing a wild-goose? Has anybody implemented it successfully with couple of weeks customisation (as an out of the box solution)? Any real success stories…?
I gladly appreciate your sincere thoughts.
I’m an experienced Die Designer and newbie to NX. I logged-in to this forum after a long time. (Used to be a SWx user)
My goal is to become a power-user with NX’s PDW, with an efficient throughput (automating all the repetitive and obvious work, the way I used to work before). Looking at the threads and comments here I notice that NX’s PDW is not quite popular among the users.
Am I chasing a wild-goose? Has anybody implemented it successfully with couple of weeks customisation (as an out of the box solution)? Any real success stories…?
I gladly appreciate your sincere thoughts.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks





RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
I am in the process of implementing the PDW, and the way to get it done is training. The best training is "job specific" training. I would recommend working with a consultant closely with you to identify your specific needs. It’s not something that you’re going to implement fully in a couple of weeks. You need to implement the software piece by piece, starting with the strip layout, and then building a library.
NX 7.5/8.0/8.5/9.0
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
I know still it’s little bit early to comment and I wish I got a wrong impression. Even to insert a screw, must select a template with correct direction which contains correct number of plates. Today I may use a screws to mount 2 parts vertically down, tomorrow thru 10 parts upwards and later in a different direction on a cam etc. ect.. To be efficient, do we need to capture templates for each and every possibility? It will be an enormous size of Reuse Libraries which will be very hard to maintain.
In other software, must only show the basic requirements. The mounting face (thread plate) and the Screw head plate (logical and practical). Then it captures the design intent and automatically insert the screw with correct standard lengths and pockets and details accordingly to each part it crosses (also have the possibility to customise further on fly adding more machining holes, springs, spacers, ejector pins etc. as needed to the axis).
Also I find it’s week on editing/changing a Ruse Library component. If I want a different screw mounting method, unable to change the screw mounting type since it is driven by one particular template. In this case, I think the only option is to delete and re-insert the new template (if I have one).
I'm not trying to find fault and criticize PDW. I just would like to see it strengthening and widening boundaries of its basic powers to use seamlessly in any practical situation, similar to adding CNC capability to a manual workshop (don't think of profile grinders and specialised tools beforehand).
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
I can see your posts thread561-205031: Anyone using the Prog. Die Wizzard on NX5? and thread561-103521: Scrap Design using the Progressive Die Wizard from 2004 trying to implement PDW.
Now you say you are considering Logopress after all these years of efforts?
I'm trying to revive three unused current PDW licences. Am I fighting a losing battle?
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
I don’t mind sharing information personally but would like to have an open discussion with as many as possible so our cumulative voice will be helpful and heard by many other interested parties to make some educated criticism and decisions.
I know most of the NX users are big players with pride and don’t want to discuss shortcomings openly. But we should come out from the shell and demand our requirements and to shape the software we live with daily. As customers we are always right and hope our vendors know that.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
I've also developed a Expression driven NX Die Ass'y Template along with a "smart" part library that often looks to attributes within the ass'y template.
It's been a lot of hard work and I would say it's a BETA version at this point. However, it has proved to work well so far and I'm committed to continue the expansion.
What I don't like about the PDW and others like it is feeling like I'm being put in a box. I want and need the flexibility to go off the reservation at any time. Also, if something gets jammed up way down stream in a design, I can find a way out of it because the diagnostics are strait forward.
LOGO and PDW are scary in that regard.
My 2 cents
Dave
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
Since these systems are evolving with each and every release, we have to be careful when we develop our own templates and Libraries. Soon or later those isolated methods could be obsolete. For instance if you have your own macros, Journals or grip programs you have to constantly update to keep up to the current. New Hole inserting method….How many can afford this?
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
We do a some other types of structures and tooling besides dies. And, I don't have the need to leverage the mfg content down stream. We just don't do enough of one specific discipline here. I just toss my design work over the proverbial fence as it were. The shop takes it from there.
I have tried to keep the customization fairly simple to minimize up keep down the road. Basic attributes and expressions drive everything. I have no Grip or NX Open content. Tho I would love something just to make the editing of the "part" Attributes easier. I just posted my appeal here, http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=350160
The smart content parts are just models that will morph to anything within a part family. Ex: "Dadco C Series gas spring" Then report the catalog # and other info back to the BOM.
Takes away a good bit of the tedium.
Dave
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
If I’m not mistaken NX’s Part Family=SWx part Configurations.
By experience I know, if a SWx parts are having too many part configurations, Large assembly performance (rebuild time) goes down. I wonder if this is the reason that PDW adopted inserting table driven standard components.
I was looking for NX’s best practices documentation and still couldn’t find any. I wold like if anybody could share if such exist.
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks
RE: PDW- Is it a wild-goose chase?
It seems to be working but seems to be having a glitch of multiplying number of components (some times).
Michael Fernando (CSWE)
www.solidCADworks.com
Tool and Die Designer
Siemens NX V8.5 + PDW
SWX 2013 SP3.0 X64
PDMWorks 2013
Logopress3
FastForm Advance
FormatWorks