3 Replies Latest reply on Sep 21, 2016 6:55 AM by Ales Svoboda

    PDM - How do you handle Cylinders?

    Gianluca Mattaroccia
    Gianluca Mattaroccia Sep 16, 2016 8:15 AM

      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

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        • Re: PDM - How do you handle Cylinders?
          Jim Sculley
          Jim Sculley Sep 16, 2016 8:25 AM (in response to Gianluca Mattaroccia)

          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.

            • Re: PDM - How do you handle Cylinders?
              Ales Svoboda
              Ales Svoboda Sep 21, 2016 6:55 AM (in response to Jim Sculley)

              Make component flexible works in small assemblies but it is nightmare in complex assemblies. But make it virtual together with configurations is good option. Every engineer need another configuration and If you have assembly in PDM and in some Library directory (read only) you cann´t add configurations - it depends on your settings in PDM.

              Other option is save assembly as part - it is our case.

            • Re: PDM - How do you handle Cylinders?
              Solid Air
              Solid Air Sep 16, 2016 8:45 AM (in response to Gianluca Mattaroccia)

              Like Jim stated, making the assembly flexible in an upper level assembly is one way to go.  Another option: If you do not foresee having more than say, a dozen different lengths, then I would suggest using a design table and create a configuration for each length.