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Sandy712-Amethyst
12-Amethyst
January 9, 2024
Solved

downloading CAD files from windchill

  • January 9, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 3637 views

Hi,

 

Can you suggest me some process to download and edit CAD from Windchill. Our team generally does it through Workspace, by loading all the things in server and then saving it as a backup in the local system.

But evidently its a very long procedure.

 

Windchill version: windchill 12

 

Thanks in advance...!

 

Sandeep.

Best answer by avillanueva

In order to get the Native CAD, you must use a workspace. There is no direct download unless you are publishing STEP models and want that copy. The workspace does more than retrieve files. If there are meta data changes or renames, it handles all the modifications to the native CAD files before it comes to you. If you do not care to check back in any modifications for your analysis, you can make local modifications in the workspace without checking out and discard when done with your analysis. You can also take a workspace offline.

2 replies

H
Hari_Vara16-Pearl
16-Pearl
January 9, 2024

Hi,

Is this for a study purpose where you don't want to edit the CAD files (which in Windchill requires Checkout).?

If yes, the best way is to use a Project and do that study. The CAD files in PDMLink will continue to be available for others as its original state. Meanwhile you can "Check out to Project" (Called PDM Checkout). Do the editing and study (These edits will not be visible to PDMLink users at all). Later, if the study is successful there are options to check it back to PDMLink.

 

Working inside the PLM environment is the best practice. These Offline saves create trouble.

 

Let me know what you think!

Cheers

Hari

 

    S
    Sandy712-AmethystAuthor
    12-Amethyst
    January 9, 2024

    Hi Hari,

     

    I use it in simulation software for analysis. But I do not edit the CAD that much, only somewhat for my analysis. Hence, my main requirement is to download the CAD assembly and parts.

     

    Sandeep C.

    H
    Hari_Vara16-Pearl
    16-Pearl
    January 9, 2024

    Hi Sandeep,

    The thing is that your downstream process may want to explore the design options / tweaks. 

    Add those designers as well to the project. They can do their design tweaks.

    Consider ProjectLink as the design(and Simulation) team's your Sandbox environment.

    I would recommend you to explore ProjectLink and talk to you Windchill Solution Team. There will be a "Engineering IT" team somewhere. 

    Enjoy!

    Best Regards

    Hari

    avillanueva
    23-Emerald I
    avillanueva23-Emerald IAnswer
    23-Emerald I
    January 9, 2024

    In order to get the Native CAD, you must use a workspace. There is no direct download unless you are publishing STEP models and want that copy. The workspace does more than retrieve files. If there are meta data changes or renames, it handles all the modifications to the native CAD files before it comes to you. If you do not care to check back in any modifications for your analysis, you can make local modifications in the workspace without checking out and discard when done with your analysis. You can also take a workspace offline.

    S
    Sandy712-AmethystAuthor
    12-Amethyst
    January 9, 2024

    i would go with @avillanueva 's solution as it seems more related to mine. implementing projectlink doesn't seem feasible right now.

     

    BTW, thanks @avillanueva and @Hari_Vara for the help.

     

    Br,

    Sandeep C.

    H
    Hari_Vara16-Pearl
    16-Pearl
    January 10, 2024

    Hi Sandy,

    What @avillanueva is a straight forward approach of using workspace, My only caution to you is there is a possibility that you may accidentally check out and perform the changes without you noticing. This happens in Creo, say, you want to touch a datum plane.

    It is recommended to "Lock" the objects when downloading. Please do take care of that. There is a setting in Windchill to do that.

     

    Also, as Villanueva says, you may keep the modified version in Workspace. I remember, also that you can use the option "Continue to Modify" when the window appears "Check out to Modify" or "Continue". 

    It will work, but you need to take care everytime.

     

    I will leave just one comment here, as Villanueva also knows that, even in projectlink, there is workspace usage only., only advantage there is , it is your own "Sandbox" as you are outside the PDMLink.

     

    Windchill is a wild animal that can scare you but mostly you will be ok with sound working methods. Look out for your company's super users and have a chat with them. Get a SOP from them.

     

    Best Regards

    Hari

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