Easy ? on PDM & Part Numbers...

[TateJ]

My client has never used part numbers in the past. Before loading SolidWorks (their first CAD package period)... they were manufacturing from hand-drawn sketches & purchasing off the BOM description. Now I'm helping him get their standards set-up & am having a tough time convncing him to develop part numbers... "We never needed them before." He's sold on the idea of using PDMWorks & I'll be helping with that pretty soon. Actually I need to learn it first... So now to the question...

Will PDMWorks require us to use part numbers? (I hope. I hope. I hope.)

If the short answer is yes... Then I'll drop the bomb Monday & we'll start developing part numbers.

Windows 2000 Professional / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2006 SP01.0 / SpaceBall 4000 FLX
Diet Coke with Lime / Dark Chocolate
Lava Lamp​

 

[EEnd]

Sorry to tell you, but PDMWorks won't require you to have part numbers. It will warn you that a part does not have a number or description every time you try to check it into the vault.

PDMWorks does require that each file in the vault have an unique file name, even across projects. Having a part number and including that in the file name is one way to accomplish this.

Eric

 

[BSMECAD]

You should convince your client to always use part numbers.
In my opinion this is just common sense but you will surely find resistance from them. Part numbers will help you better organize and track. The PDMWorks vault does requires unique file names as mentioned.

Refer to below thread:

thread559-136028

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

[qupte]am having a tough time convncing him to develop part numbers... [/quote]
What's to develop?? If your client is that opposed to part numbers, you will have a much easier sell if you keep it simple. Allocate numbers sequentially from a non-significant range. Including a recognisable name will also help the "sell".




Helpful SW websites faq559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions faq559-1091

 

[smcadman]

We currently have over 100,000 unique parts in the vault. We use part numbers now, but I see some of the older projects that still reside on some computers here. "Left Bracket", "Bottom Plate", "Side Tube" are just a few examples of names re-used several times on projects, and this would cause havoc if they were checked into the vault.
The top-most assembly has a "part number - description", but the rest of the parts and assemblies are unique part numbers only with no description.

Flores
SW06 SP1.0

 

[PDMAdmin]

What about having the part numbers as the filenames? That way, you could be sure that every part number was unique (i.e. no repeats or duplicates), and you could enter a description under properties and search by description (if necessary) in the PDMW client.

 

[SolidsMaster]

I have to argree with CorBlimey on this one, going with a simple sequential number system. This will be a big help with NOT duplicating file which is a major problem with not using a numbering system. Show him that you can add description in all sorts of ways and show how easy you can search for them. Believe us when we say numbers numbers numbers. I've seen the old bracket.sldprt used and then then wonder why their file looks different because someone saved over it with their bracket.sldprt. Common descriptions can exist in PDM, but not filenames. Yes, do the numbers, period.

John

 

[TateJ]

Didn't want to re-hash an old debate here... I know the value of un-intelligent part numbers & unique file names. I just wanted to know if PDMWorks would require us to use part numbers. That's all...

Thanks for the replies...

Windows 2000 Professional / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2006 SP01.0 / SpaceBall 4000 FLX
Diet Coke with Lime / Dark Chocolate
Lava Lamp​