Part Numbering and SolidWorks

[gp13]

I'm currently in the process of implementing a part numbering system from scratch, and I'm just curious to see what software you guys are (or aren't) using to store/generate your part numbers and all subsequent information. I welcome all tips/questions/comments/suggestions/etc as I basically have free reign on this one, within reason of course. I have searched (and searched and searched) this topic, and I've read many threads including a few that have been started quite recently here. At the moment, I'm looking for something more or less standalone, as opposed to a full blown ERP system, but I'm having a difficult time finding much of anything that will do what I'm looking for. The only thing I've found that even comes close is called PDMLynx, and I am currently waiting on them to get back to me with more information. If anyone has used this before, I would love to hear from you especially.

Please note that I am not really looking to discuss intelligent vs. non-intelligent schemes, and that anyone who suggests I manage my part numbers using Excel will simply be ignored (kidding, but not really).

Thanks in advance,
Matt

 

[snowshoe2]

Hello Gopack13,

I agree, Excel would NOT be my first choice as it is a manual system and it appears you want more than that, Razorleaf (link below) has a tool I have looked at that works with Enterprise. Not sure which direction we will go with it either, but another choice for your info. I have called Razorleaf a couple of times and they have been a good source of information.

sorry, never used PDMlynx, can't comment.

http://www.razorleaf.com/2012/07/hw-adn/

All the Best
Snowshoe2

 

[gwubs]

We use M$ Excel (I'm sneaking that thru on a technicality, I know). But hey, if you don't want to go full blown pay, out of the box stuff that often does not do exactlty what you want, build you own. The hard part BTW is not the software aspect, BUT PLANNING A SYSTEM. If you know what you want to do, and figure out how to make it work, programming is not that hard. Give that some thought before you pay big bucks for off the shelf.

 

[SonicFlow]

@gopack13
Matt,
You mention ERP is not what you want, but I’m not clear exactly what you are after (and the boundaries between different categories are blurry to me). Almost ERP, MRP, PLM, PDM? Software to “store/generate your part numbers and all subsequent information”… “All info” includes accounting info, CAD info, ECO info? I think you see my point. And it sounds like you want something that will automatically number new parts based on some scheme that is not simple...

I’ve heard that Enterprise PDM (EPDM) is powerful, and can do many things if you set it up right (we are considering it), See “EPDM acting as MRP system”

https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/55819

on SW forums.

Aras Innovator is a free (subscription optional) PLM system that I’m also considering. It contains a vault, but apparently the PDM side is lacking unless you pay for CAD connectors (and these probably end up making it more expensive than EPDM). It is supposed to be easy to customize, although I don’t know how complex a part number system it can create with the graphical interface (more advanced coding is also possible). Good article here

http://www.deskeng.com/articles/aaatme.htm

“Aras Innovator: PLM on a Shoestring”

OpenERP

http://v6.openerp.com

is another interesting option with a different focus. Wikipedia actually lists some other open ERP software.

You are more about software, but "Engineering Documentation Control" by Watts is a pretty good book, with some ideas about part number systems.

Today I discovered GoPDM.com which is a totally free PDM software of unknown greatness.

I saw a 3rd party site that says PDMLynx is “$2000-1250 per editing user”, that is more than an EPDM CAD editor seat ($500/year), but the free viewers would make a big difference in total cost if you want to deploy it widely.

Good luck. I'm curious what you find out.

 

[SonicFlow]

Update on PDMLynx. It is only $800 per editing user one time! permanent license! Support is optional. I will have to look at what it can do more thoroughly. That is way cheaper than other options (but more confidence inspiring than free).

 

[AnnaWood]

Careful, you could get nickel and dimed to death for support. They probably make their money from consulting and support.

Cheers,

Anna Wood
SW2012 SP4, Windows 7 x64

http://www.renderbay.com

http://www.solidmuse.com

http://www.phxswug.com

 

[SonicFlow]

Good point AnnaWood, but I'm pretty sure PDMLynx is genuinely cheap, it is a very small (vulnerable?) operation. Support is 20% of the purchase price. It seems like a good basic PDM system. It does not run "in-sesssion" with SolidWorks, but that doesn't bother me much. They offer a 30 day demo.

One important concern is that it does not maintain file links when importing the old stuff into PDMLynx. Sounds like thousands of SolidWorks files would need to be manually relinked.

By the way (if I understand correctly) this is the same problem one runs into when trying to use Aras as a PDM system without paying for a CAD Connector. It will link files but only if they are created that way in the system.

 

[snowshoe2]

Ouch, manually link the files? not sure I would continue looking at it. would PDMWorks be an option? you may already own it with a pro or premium lic.

smilin
Snowshoe2

 

[JMirisola]

Matt,
Why are you only looking for "right now"? Is there no intention to grow in the future? When you say "store", what, exactly, do you mean? Are you looking to create a vault that will store the files or just some sort of data repository with information about the part?
Where I work, we do use Excel to keep track of part numbers (number and description), but utilize EPDM for vaulting purposes. In the vault are all our models, assemblies, drawings, etc.



Jeff Mirisola
My Blog

 

[looslib]

Matt,

Are you actually looking for a PDM system that assigns part numbers and vaults the CAD data or JUST something to keep track of part numbers?

Is your part number scheme simply a numeric sequence or do you have some intelligence in the number scheme for different part types?

What type of data do you want to store in your system?

Do you want something relatively OOTB or customized out the whazoo to meet your requirements?

There is nothing wrong with the KISS approach, if that is all you want. Excel does work for that. We use Excel to keep a basic list of part numbers and description, but the CAd data is in a full PDM system.


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Ben Loosli