Version: Windchill 12.0
Use Case: The company I work at uses Solidworks and Windchill. We recently found a BOM error due to the creation of a Virtual Component in one of the CAD assemblies. The Virtual Component is saved in the SLDASM file and no external SLDPRT file is created. With no changes to Windchill and/or Workgroup Manager, Windchill will ignore this component and no CAD Document or associated Windchill Part will be created.
Description:
Curious how other companies using Solidworks as their primary CAD solution are dealing with Virtual Components in their CAD assemblies?
This ability is turned off in our default Solidworks settings file, but people have permission to change their settings.
Windchill and WGM support Solidworks Virtual Components, but it’s an all or none option. You can turn the capability on at the Site level or leave it disabled, which is the default. Please let me know if my assumption is correct here.
I think it's cool for reference sharing and top down design, but would not want Windchill to create CAD docs and WC Parts for these items. However, if someone makes a component virtual by mistake, it will not show up in the WC BOM if its not enabled in Windchill.
I see pros and cons to leaving it off and turning it on, but I'm hoping someone might have a little more insight to share on how they are ignoring or utilizing this capability.
