Best way to make a 'Catalog' of standard assy

[phreaq]

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,

 

[ctopher]

Curious, how is the 'Design Library' not user friendly? I use it all the time.
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
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[Heckler]

So basically you want to set it up like 3D Content Central

http://www.3dcontentcentral.com/3dcontentcentral/cc_frame.asp

where you can pick a part then open it inside the web brouser. Is this for your customers or internal SWx users? If it's for customers to use I'm not sure that would be a good idea to 'give away' that data. If it's for internal SWx users I think Chris has nailed it.

Best Regards,

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
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"There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea" Bernard-Paul Heroux

 

[phreaq]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the responses.

Chris, I am the IT guy (and a mech designer)

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.

 

[Standing]

phreaq,
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

 

[wes616]

Do they carry the same Part Number? or can't be distinguished by naming convention. Even a bigger picture of the part would do little to be able to visually distinguish between identical parts that are that similar in size.

Wes C.

 

[ctopher]

It is how I do it. Each part has it's own part number.
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)
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[phreaq]

wow, lots of replies :-D

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.

 

[wes616]

If I was you, I'd probablly create a sub-folder in your design library that carries these assemblies with the incremental lengh associated with the folder... the put all the data for the 12' Mezz in the folder called "12-Foot"... or something like that.

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.

 

[Standing]

What we have done to find started parts like Rails, Connectors, Marking strips and etc. Is too create an Excel spread sheet. For example our Rails sheet would look like the following. That Excel spread sheet is kept in the PDM for all to see and anyone to update. Once we find the item we are looking for we find it in the PDM and insert it into our assembly.

Rail Mounting Length No. of Full Length Slots
640474-12 2.00 2
640474-10 2.25 2
640474-18 2.50 2


Bradley

 

[phreaq]

and so the thread continues......

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.

 

[ctopher]

Setting up Design Library isn't much different than website. Either way your users have to search for the parts/assys. A website will work fine if that's what you want. You will have to create one. The Design Library is already there.
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

 

[J-C]

And if I recall correctly, the Design Library can be searched utilizing custom properties. Should be a button at the top of the task pane.

Jason

 

[Standing]

You never said if you had PDM or not. If you have 1,000’s of assemblies I would highly recommend looking into PDM\Works.

Bradley

 

[ctopher]

I agree with Bradley. We also use PDMWorks...works well. I only use Design Library for purchased parts/assys that I know will not change and are not revision controlled.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[phreaq]

hey guys,

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)

 

[ctopher]

Hire a programmer to write something you want.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716