Making part from Assembly to be used at next level

[Standing]

We have tried everything to speed up our assemblies. We did not build them right a long time ago. Fixing our assembly models to have less than 300 mates is not an option for our old assemblies.

One of our Engineers wants to make a part of the subassembly. Then that part would replace the subassembly in the next higher level. This would start at the larger subassemblies and continue up until the top level was reached. The assembly and part that was made from the assembly would have no physical link to each other.

I know this can be done and work OK. What I am asking is there any issues that I am not seeing?
We are using SolidWorks 2004 SP 4 & PDM. Our 1.7 Gig computers with 1 Gig memory are dedicated systems used only for SolidWorks and Excel for the BOM’s.


Bradley

 

[SBaugh]

If you save your assemblies out as parts then if those parts change your part/assembly file(s) will not update. It breaks the physical link between the two. You will also probably have to remate the part files into the assembly.

I hope I read your post correctly?

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

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[Standing]

Thanks Scott,
That is the type of advice I am looking for.

Anyone else tried making a part from Assembly to be used at next level?


Bradley

 

[macPT]

Bradley

I don't know exactly the way your company works, so I don't know if it can cause future problems or not. What I can say is that would be impossible in my company.

First we have design intent. I am shure that you will loose your design intent when converting subassemblies into parts.

Second, as already mentioned, you will loose the links between parts, assemblies and drawing. A product revision will be painful.

Third, to avoid duplication of documents (which is the first step for big mess) you must delete the parts and drawing files of the coneerted subassembly. But, if you need to modify a part, how to do it?

Forth, having a management system with part numbers, product structure, manufacturing management, MRP,... linked or based in your drawings, that procedure would cause a big impact in the company.

If this is not your case, maybe you can do it. But then what stops you from, for example, simply convert your assemblies into iges or something?

Regards

 

[MadMango]

Instead of making "dumb parts" is there any way that you can just create more sub-assys? This will help reduce top level mates and should help with performance.

"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
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[Standing]

MadMango,
Cannot change the structure of our old BOM’s now. To far into the MRP and Revision system to change old stuff. New assemblies that is what we are doing and SolidWorks is great for those.


Bradley