Solidworks PDM EML4502- Senior Design 3

What is PDM? Stands for “Product Data Management” Allows large teams to work efficiently on CAD files Different CAD Vendors have their own flavors Solidworks: Solidworks Enterprise PDM (We use this) Siemens NX: Teamcenter PTC: Windchill Autodesk: Vault Catia: WorkBench Same basic workflow is common for all platforms

What is PDM? (continued) For software engineers: Non-distributed version of Git For non-software engineers: A purpose built Dropbox for CAD applications A single source of truth for revision control and latest part models Server/Client application used for revision control

Why PDM? Single Person (No PDM) Scenario: Single person working on entire assembly Opens assembly/parts Makes changes Save Move on with life Disadvantage: No revision control Example: Redefined sketch, hit save, broke entire assembly. Closed Solidworks. Can’t go back in time easily

Use case: Team working on assembly (No PDM) Scenario: 8am:Bob Starts modifying housing.sldprt 8:10am Deb: Starts modifying housing.sldprt 8:20am Deb is done, hits save 8:30am: Bob is done, hits save Result: Deb’s work is erased. Disadvantage: Hard to find the latest assembly version Work gets overwritten Hard to know who made what changes, at what time and why

How PDM fixes this problem The PDM server acts a single source of truth for all CAD/Engineering files Allows you to “check in/out” parts, preventing others from making edits while you work on it Auto-magically allow you to always have the latest assembly Allows you to time-travel to previous versions easily Tracks who made what changes and when

How it works: A server stores the most recent version of the assembly You can read the most recent parts at anytime If you want to make a change, “check out” the part. This tells the server, to block anyone else from editing the part When you are done, “check-in” the part that you edited. The server updates, and tells everyone to refresh for the latest model. That’s it.

Workflow approval Part Approval States: Right click File-> Change State

Task: How to add parts to PDM Make a part as usual File=> Save Enter the vault via the File explorer and save it inside the vault Then open PDM pane -> Right click part->Check in

Task: How to open existing parts in PDM In File Explorer: Where you saved the vault, double-click the Vault Icon

Task: How to open existing parts in PDM Double click part to open in Solid works Right-click to view PDM options like description and history

Task: How to check out parts Open File/Assembly via File Explorer/PDM Go to PDM tab in right Right click the part you want ->Click Check out DON’T CHECKOUT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AND IT’S CHILDREN PARTS. ONLY CHECK OUT THE PARTS YOU ARE DIRECTLY GOING TO EDIT

Task: How to check in parts Do edits, click Save Go to PDM tab, click on part, and right click-> Check in

Best Practices Only check out parts you plan on using Check-in all the parts before closing Solidworks Use good descriptions for check in notes Only use the provided drawing templates

How to install PDM Add/Remove Programs => Search for Solidworks=>Click Modify

How to install PDM 1. Click 2. Unclick

How to install PDM 1. Click Modify

How to install PDM Click This Click This

How to install PDM Accept Agreement Download/Install Wait for 5 min (Expresso Break)

How to install PDM Folder=> Solidworks PDM Click on => View Setup

How to install PDM

How to install PDM

How to install PDM Select the relevant vault to use

How to install PDM Store in the hard drive root “C:/” Don’t have Dropbox backup/sync on folder

How to install PDM

How to install PDM UFL Email: georgewashington@ufl.edu User Name: georgewashington Password: {Your UFL password}