SolidWorks 2005 BOM and Balloons do not match? 1

[jmg108]

When I have several configurations of a large assembly, with several sheets showing these configuations, how do I get the balloon on the later sheets to match the bill of materials on the first sheet? The only way I have found to accomplish this, is to put a BOM on every sheet. I have to be missing something here. Thanks for the help.

 

[pdybeck]

Right click on the drawing view and select properties. Under Bills of Materials make the sure the check box for "Keep Linked to BOM" is checked. Click the drop down box and select the BOM you want to link to. Click OK.... This should do it for you.

Pete

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I find the best way is to have a config specific BOM on the sheet showing that config. It is also easier to read the BOM when it is on the same sheet as the views it is referencing.

I've not used SW05 yet, but in SW04 the default BOM item numbers follow the Feature Manager order of component parts. If in your configs, you have different parts suppressed, the BOM for any particular config will ignore those parts creating a mismatch of item numbers.

In SW04, you can have all or individual configs showing in a BOM. You can also set options for "missing items" and "strikeout" among others. I suggest you experiment with these options to see if they will give you what you want.

& all the best.

 

[jmg108]

Pete,

Yes, I have found this box. However, when I try to link the views on the 2nd,3rd or 4th sheet there is no BOM available in the drop down box. That seems to be the problem. I always have to put another BOM on these sheets for SWX to link to. Let me add that these are large assemblies and the BOM takes up an entire E size drawing. It just seems to me that SWX should be able to read one BOM throughout the entire drawing file regardless how many sheet you have. Thanks for the input and I'll keep trying. Any more input would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

 

[pdybeck]

jmg108,

I have had success linking different configurations on different sheets to the BOM located on other sheets. I am using 2004 SP 4.1. What version of SolidWorks are you using?

Pete

 

[jmg108]

I am using 2005 SP01.1. One of our vendors, using the same version, is so frustrated, they are in the process of designing there own embedded BOM.

Mike

 

[pdybeck]

I'll give it a try on 2005 1.1. I am running a test bed for that before I roll 2005 out to my company.

 

[jmg108]

Please let me know if you get it to work and thanks again for the input. One more note, this is the SWX BOM. I have not tried the Excel BOM because it is rumored that SWX is going to disable this feature in the near future.

 

[pdybeck]

jmg108,

We use the SWX BOM and not excel. I tried this on a small assembly in 2005 SP 1.1. I have 3 configurations on 3 different sheets all tied (linked) to the BOM on sheet 1. All the balloons match, as expected. Seems to be working for me (at least on that drawing). Do you by chance have any derived configurations? I have seen problems with that in the past, where item numbers do not match when using derived configurations. I think the reason why the excel BOM is still available in drawings is because SolidWorks knows the SW BOM isn't quite up to snuff yet. They keep tweaking it, but its not as robust as what is should be for it being the 2nd release that its been available. I don't knbow if you could pull off what you are trying to do with the excel based BOM unless you put a BOM on each sheet, as you mentioned.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

1) The BOM does not have to be visible on the sheet. It can be moved outside of the print area.

2) If you try what I suggest in my previous post you can do what you want. (ie; have one BOM on the first sheet showing all configs & have all balloons matching on other sheets) It is really very simple ... you could save your vendor a lot of time, money & aggravation by taking the time to try the options.

& all the best.

 

[pdybeck]

jmg108,

Try what I just mentioned with a small assembly as a test. Then take a look at your large assembly drawings and make sure the same procedure was followed as the test.