Performance questions on large assemblies/drawings

[tap90291]

My group is having problems opening and editing large assemblies. It is taking 30 minutes to open the full assembly. Stats for the assy are 2462 components, 2332 parts, 130 sub assemblies, 68 unique sub assemblies, 2346 resolved components, 116 suppressed components, 0 lightweight, 84 top level mates, 26 top level components, max depth 5. Machine specs, dual xeon's 2.4 ghz., 1 meg ram, quadro fx3000 video card. Network is claimed to be near state of the art, IT claimed that network connection speed is not the problem. They claimed that a poor file structure and application is the problem, and offered no support. The parts are spread around several folders, we have tried to create smaller generic subassemblies in order to manage the documents. Have we created a monster we cannot deal with. If so where did we go wrong and what shold we expect, and how do we make remedial corective action.

Regards

TAP

 

[MadMango]

I always ask these questions, as they can prove to be assembly killers.

Do you have many helix-based models? If so, try supressing them if you don't need to see them. Do you have a lot of in-context features? Consider breaking the in-context links if the design is stablized.

"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[engAlright]

Hi tap90291,

In my experience, network speed is usually the bottleneck. Even the most "state of the art" networks can't match the transfer rate of your hard drive.

Some other random thoughts:

-dual processors won't improve performance significantly with solidworks
-I presume you meant that you have 1GB of RAM, which is still likely inadequate for the size of your assembly when it's fully resolved, unless your parts are VERY simple. As soon as you start swapping to hard drive your performance will tank. You can check this through Performance in the task manager in Win2K or XP, or through Performance logging or system monitor in Administrative Tools
-organizing in to sub-assemblies is a good move - can any of those sub-assemblies be saved as a part?
-use large assembly mode
-load lightweight wherever possible
-use simplified configurations

Good luck!

 

[SBaugh]

Did you open the assembly fully resolved?

Machine specs, dual xeon's 2.4 ghz, 1 meg ram, quadro fx3000 video card.

Dual does not make SW any faster.

Get more RAM with that size Assembly

Be sure you have the correct driver for your card

Quadro FX 3400/1300
Win2K 6.14.10.6176 2005
WinXP 6.14.10.6176 2005
Win2K 6.14.10.6176 2004
WinXP 6.14.10.6176 2004

try coping the files locally and then opening up the assembly in the same fashion as you just did. See how much faster it is. If you have the room you could try peserving the file structure and see if it makes a difference when you open it locally.

They may clainm it is, to pass the buck to someone else. Have them list the hardware they are using. Just to see and make sure they are.

Also check this site out -

http://www.solidworks.com/swexpress/mar04/200403_techtip_02.cfm

Regards,


Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

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[tap90291]

Excuse me 1 gig in most machines, 2 gig in another. All machines are slow. We have a few springs, and Helical gears, (less than 12 total). I still suspect the network speed is the real issue, I opened a small assy off of the network, and then opened a larger assy of my hard drive, the assy off the hard drive opened in a matter of seconds compared to minutes 20-25 seconds vs. 5 or more minutes (in the presence of IT personel).

 

[Standing]

tap90291,
What is your local area connection network speed?
What we had to do was put in optical lines to our engineering server (which is used only by engineering). We now run at 1 Gbps. Made at huge difference. Everyone has two computers, one for CAD, the other for all else.


Bradley

 

[J-C]

Make sure your ethernet card on your computer is set to 100mb Full duplex. Righ Click "Network Places" select properties, Right click "Local area connection" select props, Select "configure". There should be a place there to set it under one of the tabs. It's probably set at "default" or "Auto"

This must be set at the server as well for each connection. Makes a hugh difference.

Jason Capriotti
Smith & Nephew, Inc.

 

[Standing]

If your Network line is 1Gbps then get a 1Gbps Net card. Then follow Jason’s suggestion.

Bradley

 

[Nwaune]

Do you use a server designated only for solidworks files?

In my experience with much smaller assemblies, I have found the actual file server is also "speed" limiter. Your network may be able to handle the traffic, but if engineering, accounting, and purchasing all use the same file server, you may be overwhelming it.

Nick

 

[Standing]

Nick is right, that was one of our problems.

Bradley