1. Solidworks PDM
EML4502- Senior Design 3

2. What is PDM? Stands for “Product Data Management”
Allows large teams to work efficiently on CAD files
Different CAD Vendors have their own flavors
Solidworks: Solidworks Enterprise PDM (We use this)
Siemens NX: Teamcenter
PTC: Windchill
Autodesk: Vault
Catia: WorkBench
Same basic workflow is common for all platforms

3. What is PDM? (continued)
For software engineers: Non-distributed version of Git
For non-software engineers: A purpose built Dropbox for CAD applications
A single source of truth for revision control and latest part models
Server/Client application used for revision control

4. Why PDM? Single Person (No PDM)
Scenario: Single person working on entire assembly
Opens assembly/parts
Makes changes
Save
Move on with life
Disadvantage:
No revision control
Example: Redefined sketch, hit save, broke entire assembly. Closed Solidworks. Can’t go back in time easily

5. Use case: Team working on assembly (No PDM)
Scenario:
8am:Bob Starts modifying housing.sldprt
8:10am Deb: Starts modifying housing.sldprt
8:20am Deb is done, hits save
8:30am: Bob is done, hits save
Result: Deb’s work is erased.
Disadvantage:
Hard to find the latest assembly version
Work gets overwritten
Hard to know who made what changes, at what time and why

6. How PDM fixes this problem
The PDM server acts a single source of truth for all CAD/Engineering files
Allows you to “check in/out” parts, preventing others from making edits while you work on it
Auto-magically allow you to always have the latest assembly
Allows you to time-travel to previous versions easily
Tracks who made what changes and when

7. How it works: A server stores the most recent version of the assembly
You can read the most recent parts at anytime
If you want to make a change, “check out” the part.
This tells the server, to block anyone else from editing the part
When you are done, “check-in” the part that you edited.
The server updates, and tells everyone to refresh for the latest model.
That’s it.

8. Workflow approval Part Approval States:
Right click File-> Change State

9. Task: How to add parts to PDM
Make a part as usual
File=> Save
Enter the vault via the File explorer and save it inside the vault
Then open PDM pane -> Right click part->Check in

10. Task: How to open existing parts in PDM
In File Explorer: Where you saved the vault, double-click the Vault Icon

11. Task: How to open existing parts in PDM
Double click part to open in Solid works
Right-click to view PDM options like description and history

12. Task: How to check out parts
Open File/Assembly via File Explorer/PDM
Go to PDM tab in right
Right click the part you want ->Click Check out
DON’T CHECKOUT THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY AND IT’S CHILDREN PARTS.
ONLY CHECK OUT THE PARTS YOU ARE DIRECTLY GOING TO EDIT

13. Task: How to check in parts
Do edits, click Save
Go to PDM tab, click on part, and right click-> Check in

14. Best Practices Only check out parts you plan on using
Check-in all the parts before closing Solidworks
Use good descriptions for check in notes
Only use the provided drawing templates

15. How to install PDM
Add/Remove Programs => Search for Solidworks=>Click Modify

16. How to install PDM
1. Click
2. Unclick

17. How to install PDM
1. Click Modify

18. How to install PDM
Click This
Click This

19. How to install PDM Accept Agreement Download/Install
Wait for 5 min (Expresso Break)

20. How to install PDM Folder=> Solidworks PDM
Click on => View Setup

21. How to install PDM

22. How to install PDM

23. How to install PDM
Select the relevant vault to use

24. How to install PDM Store in the hard drive root “C:/”
Don’t have Dropbox backup/sync on folder

25. How to install PDM

26. How to install PDM
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