Linking Family Table instance Parts with Generic Drawing for SolidWorks instances

[SM_10980158]

Version: Windchill 12.1

Use Case: Is it possible to link SolidWorks Family table instances with the Generic drawing through SolidWorks itself, similar to 'Add model' option in Creo?

Description:

We are using Windchill Workgroup Manager to manage SolidWorks CAD in Windchill.

We are also using Family Table instances in SolidWorks (Configurations). One of the issue for us is the procedure to link the Instance CAD/Parts with Generic Table drawing so that the Instances should have link with this Generic drawing. Right now we are using 'Edit Association' from Generic drawing to Link all the Instance Parts with Drawing.

But this procedure is highly manual and requires a lot of steps.

However, in Creo we have 'Add model' option available in Drawing to associate the Instance CAD with drawing. Is it possible to have such option within SolidWorks too?

[HelesicPetr]

Hi @SM_10980158 

I would ask the SolidWorks support for this information.

PetrH

[SM_10980158]

Hello @HelesicPetr,

My question is specifically about the link created between the Drawing Document on PDMLink and the CAD Document for each instance.

I think I should be expecting support/suggestion from PTC in that case.

[BenLoosli]

This is a user community, users helping other users. If you want an answer from PTC, then open a case with PTC so one of their support engineers can address your issue.

If David and Petr both think this is a SolidWorks issue, they have the experience with Windchill to know that.

[d_graham]

I’m with @HelesicPetr 

This is not a Windchill issue. This is a cad application, SolidWorks question.

One can certainly write code to create a drawing model link between the drawing and all instances but that’s not what you want as this type of link should be derived from the cad drawing content file.

If SolidWorks does not include this functionality you need to talk to them or someone about creating a Tool Kit-like customization as this must be done by the cad application not Windchill.

Makes sense?

[SM_10980158]

SolidWorks stores its Instances (Configurations) embedded within the generic CAD file.

When in WGM the Property IS_INSTANCE is set to Yes, then this instance is treated as an individual CAD Object in Windchill. (Although as an Instance of Generic)

Since this instance does not exist separately until it's saved as above procedure, my thinking was using WGM add-in of SolidWorks it should have been possible somehow.

But considering your suggestions, I am also connecting with SolidWorks Support.

[HelesicPetr]

Hi @SM_10980158 

A linking a model with a drawing is internal functionality of the WGM. There is no UI to do so manually.

The Creo has an option to add the model to the drawing. But it can not be done in the Windchill UI outside the Creo.

So I would expect that a same functionality is in the SolidWorks adding the model to the drawing. 

PetrH

[d_graham]

@SM_10980158 

Keep in mind the drawing models are also embedded in the drawing cad file.

I mention this in previous post.

The WGM reads the cad file and uses what it finds to create metadata in Windchill database.

This metadata includes instances and all links to dependencies.

This is how Windchill knows which objects to pull when you download a cad object to WS. Or open a cad object in its native application.