Create a material DB in solidworks with manifold subcategories 1

[SARA8082]

Hello everybody,
I would like to create a customized material DB in solidworks but I need more than 2 subcategories. For example I need the category "sheet metal" subdivided into "sheet iron" and "sheet steel" categories. (first level)
Then I need to subdivide "sheet iron" into cod. 0001 ; 0002 etc correspondig for istance to different colors of painting.
How can I do that? I try to modify the sldmat file I've created by adding a subcategory. After the debugging I try to run the modified db from solidworks and it occours the following error: " Not expected element "son" as was defined in teh element father"
Can somebody help me?
Thanks
Sarah

 

[engd]

Are you creating a new database that contains only your sheet metal materials, or are you making a new database containing all of the SW materials also? You can reference multiple databases each with a unique name (ie sheetmetal.sldmat) located in the same location as the standard swmaterials database. Then have your categories as "sheet iron" and "sheet steel". Your individual materials then correspond to each color.

SheetMetal.sldmat
<mstns:materials .....
<classification name="Sheet Iron">
<material name="cod.001">
<swatchcolor RGB=.........</material>
<material name="cod.002">
<swatchcolor RGB=.........</material>
</classification>
<classification name="Sheet Steel">
<material name="xxx">
<swatchcolor RGB=.........</material>
<material name="xxx">
<swatchcolor RGB=.........</material>
</classification>
</mstns:materials>

 

[ctopher]

engd,
That will work.


Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[SARA8082]

Thanks for replying me.
Unfortunately I was unclear. I try to focus my problem. Suppose that I have to group some materials (everyone with its colors) into a category: i.e. floors or copper plating.
In this way I really have three levels in my tree, not two.
Thank you for help
Sarah

 

[pdybeck]

Sarah,

Create separate databases as an added level of categorization. I've done this... It works well.

Pete

 

[SARA8082]

Pete,
can yuo please give me an example?
Thank you so much
Sarah

 

[pdybeck]

Sarah,

Instead of creating one master database, create a database for floors, another for copper plating, etc... This will give you one more level of categorization. Make sure to locate all your databases in the same folder location. Make sure your system options point to this location for the material database. I would make this a location outside of the installation folder for SolidWorks and a different location then the out of the box database that SolidWorks provides. When applying materials to parts, you'll be presented with which database to use first, then which category, then the material.

 

[ctopher]

I have created my material db similar to pdybeck's suggestion.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 3.1
AutoCAD 08
ctopher's home (updated Aug 5, 2008)
ctopher's blog
SolidWorks Legion

 

[SARA8082]

That works! Thanks.
I have another problem. I would like to connect some materials to a thickness table. For example in my company are used plating sheets having different thickness, i.e. 10/10 or 12/10. Moreover we use floors with different thickness. How can I create a selection table similar to the swx thickness table for sheet metal?
Thanks,
Sarah