Using PDMStandard to manage NC File revisions

[TomMalinski]

Our programmers are in an office with other programmers, I plan on installing a PDMStandard Contributor license for them to access the vault. How then do they get files out to the CNC manufacturing area and still be connected to the vault? Currently they copy nc files to a stick walk out to the machine and upload it into the CNC machine. there are times when they make subtle changes to the nc file at the machine and then copy the updated file back to the stick and back to their PC, but that was prior to PDM. With PDM I am guessing that getting the file back into the vault will be problematic. The vault will see the file as a new file and will report the filename already exists, (we have unique filenames turned on) and we would lose Revision history for the file if we modified the filename and brought it into the vault. Our whole reason for using PDM with our CNC dept is to revision manage their files.

thanks for your help or suggestions
Tom

 

[GRF]

Why would they change the name of the file when changing the program on the memory stick. If they make the changes to the file on the memory stick just save the file over the one that was originally on the memory stick. When they are done the file can be copied off of the memory stick into the vault as a new revision. If they had to change the name then you can change the file name on a computer before loading the updated file into the vault.

 

[berkshire]

Tom Malinski GRF,
Where I used to work, it was quite common to do a "save as" Change the title on a file , then modify the file to get around programming errors. In this manner if you messed up , you had the original named file untouched, When everything was working correctly, you would do a "save as " to overwrite the original file. then send that back to the drawing office.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

 

[SBaugh]

Have you tested this at all to see if it works like your saying? It sounds like it might lose its history per your description.

However, if the file had been checked in previously. The person that is making the change to the NC file checks the file back out and keeps it checked out. Then they can copy the file to the stick, make changes to it that same file on a another PC, DO NOT RENAME IT. The file can be copied back over the checked out version, then its possible the history might not be lost at all after you check in that NC file. The only way that this will work is the file must remain the same name every time or your right it will be considered a new file. The way I understand PDM I think this will work, but you need to test it out.

Scott Baugh, CSWP
CAD Systems Manager
Evapar

http://www.evapar.com

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"

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