5 Replies Latest reply on Oct 23, 2009 10:58 AM by Chad Leman

Displaying multiple Revisions on a single SW drawing

Chad Leman Oct 23, 2009 7:39 AM

Is it possible with EPDM to display multiple revisions (or versions) of a single assembly on a single SW drawing?

We make our parts exploded views using SW drawings, and for serial number breaks we would like to show both the BEFORE and AFTER views of how the product looks and what part number to order. So by default when I open the exploded view drawing, it pulls up the latest version of the assembly and updates the view and the BOM on open. What I would like to do is access the previous assembly for a smaller inset view showing what the product looked like before.

If not, do users out there have any other suggestions? What programs are you using for doing exploded views?

TIA

Chad Leman

Re: Displaying multiple Revisions on a single SW drawing

Jason Capriotti Oct 23, 2009 10:12 AM (in response to Chad Leman)

Even outside a PDM this could be difficult. I would open the old revision and take a screenshot or save to dwg format...then paste the image or import the dwg onto your drawing.
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- Re: Displaying multiple Revisions on a single SW drawing
  
  Chad Leman Oct 23, 2009 10:29 AM (in response to Jason Capriotti)
  
  Jason~
  
  This is a good idea that I had not thought of. What tools are being used out there for this type of thing? Anyone using 3D Via?
  
  Thanks!
  
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  - Re: Displaying multiple Revisions on a single SW drawing
    
    Jason Capriotti Oct 23, 2009 10:55 AM (in response to Chad Leman)
    
    I use Snag-it to take quick screen grabs.....only problem is you may have to deal with the background texture/image in SolidWorks which usually doesn't show up in a print....but a screen grab would show it.
    
    Creating a view in a new drawing then saving to DWG format works well. Then open the DWG file and cut and paste it to your drawing. It helps to create an "Empty" view first in the destination drawing...then activate the empty view (double click), and paste the imported DWG geometry in the view. Then you have the ability to easily move the view around, scale it etc. We do this for adding schematics to SolidWorks drawings......the electrical guys draw them in AutoCAD but want to show them on our drawings.
    
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    - Re: Displaying multiple Revisions on a single SW drawing
      
      Chad Leman Oct 23, 2009 10:58 AM (in response to Jason Capriotti)
      
      Jason~
      
      Yes a screen shot would not look right on the drawing because of the background texture and so forth.
      
      Thanks for the tips on bringing a dwg into a drawing - I'm sure this would be a good method to get me around the problem.
      
      Thanks!
      
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Re: Displaying multiple Revisions on a single SW drawing

Chris Sonon Oct 23, 2009 10:26 AM (in response to Chad Leman)

Jason is correct, this is difficult no matter how you are trying to doi it (with or without EPDM). Solidworks will only allow you to reference on version of the associated file, unless you rename the previous. One option other than what Jason provided, depending on how drastic your changes are, is to use a different configuration which will show the pre-changed state and one that will show the current revision state. I personally like Jason's method better.

God Bless,
Chris
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