easiest way to find out which assemblies a model is used? 1

[aroundhere]

Cant believe Ive never figured this out. Is there not a "where used" type of tool for a model that will tell you everywhere that model is used?

 

[JMirisola]

SolidWorks explorer has that function.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[aroundhere]

In sw explorer, I go to the part and click in the where used tab. It gives me the drawing that the model is used, but does not give me the asseblies that the model is used. Note that every part has a folder that contains the drawing and model. I dont think this makes a difference.

 

[Nella95]

...Or you looking for the 'Go to...' function when you RMB within the assembly itself?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

SW Ex will only perform a Where Used search in the folder containing the item being searched, and in the Folder Paths specified at SolidWorks Explorer > Options > References/Where Used > Folder path.

 

[JMirisola]

So long as any assembly that contains the part is pulling from that folder, it should work. When I use SW explorer 'where used', I get the drawing and assemblies.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[aroundhere]

This leads to a good question. How do you guys do your revised models and prints? Do you change the filename of the model and drawing when you revise a part? (we save to a new file XXXXXX-A and save the old file in a certain folder) When you save as to a new filename, you have to then go into all of the assemblies the part is used in and do a replace. I guess you could keep the PN the same for the model and drawing, as long as you copied the old files into a folder and named them something different for every file that noted what rev they were for reference.

We are a small company and I am implementing a revision system. We have only been using Sworks the past few years, so we do not have hundreds of assemblies yet. I have been using our bom software to do the where used, then change the drawing and model. If I know that the changes will work in all assemblies, of course.

So, does everyone else keep the same drawing and model file name so you dont have to go thru and update all of your assemblies, or do you save it as a different name and update the assemblies?

I guess as long as all of the changes are noted on the ECN form, then you could use the same filename and would have to open the drawing to find out what the revision is? Fun stuff.

 

[JMirisola]

I always kept the file name the same and used the custom properties of the part to update the Revision, which was linked to the 'Revision' field on the drawing. I would keep a pdf of the previous rev(s) in an archive folder, while creating a new pdf for the current rev.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[aroundhere]

thats probably what we need to do. Our system was already in place and with acad and it got carried over. I think we are going to have to do it this way. It just makes sense. Keep a pdf of the last rev like you said. It hasnt been a issue yet, but it will be in the future due to the amount of assys we will create.

 

[TheTick]

No one thought of me? I'm hurt!

http://esoxrepublic.com/freeware/WhereUsed.php

Honesty may be the best policy, but insanity is a better defense.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

[SnowCrash]

I use the pdf saver, SWuBB 2010 lite from sloworks.fi and save with a suffix that includes the rev level and date code in the format "REV-001 11_07_06" for the drawing. If I need to archive a part I save it with the same suffix, but usually I just write over it.
"obsolete, superseded, wrong, and still in stock"

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2011 SP 2.0
HP Pavillion Elite HPE
W7 Pro, Nvidia Quaddro FX580

 

[jassco]

Hi, aroundhere:

Although one can search whereused info with SW Explorer, it is inefficient. With a PDM system, you can do instantaneous searches.

Best regards,

Alex