Hi,
we are evaluating the possibility of implementing PDM in our group and few questions rose from the last discussion.
We make heavy use of pneumatic cylinders from Festo. When we download the models from their website they come as assy.
A little work is needed to constrain parts and create limit mates for the working stroke of the cylinder.
Let's say we assign a part number to the assy and its children. We check-in into the vault as part of a shared library.
Now, 3 different people want to use the same cylinder on 3 different designs but each design requires a different position of the rod within the working stroke of the cylinder. How do you make sure that when you check-out and then in again the cylinder you do not modify the original configuration allowing at the same time each user to place that same exact part number in an assy where the rod position is different?
Thanks
First, consider converting the parts in the downloaded assembly into virtual components (right click in the feature tree, select 'Make Virtual') so that you can have everything in one file and you can assign a single number to it. Much easier to manage in EPDM.
Second, simply make the assembly flexible in each assembly where it is used and you can position it wherever you like without impacting other assemblies that use it.