When you are looking to manage your SolidWorks files better, you should consider using Product Data Management (PDM) software. PDM Software is used to manage CAD files and help engineers with the design and release of products. Whether your team is just getting started with SolidWorks or has been using SolidWorks for a while and are tired of managing CAD files in File Explorer with network drives, a PDM software can take the stress away from keeping track of your design files.
Symptoms of a team needing PDM
How do you know if you need PDM software? Some symptoms might include:
- Teams working on the same design and overwriting each other’s changes.
- Manually renaming CAD files filename_V2.sldprt or filename_Final_Final.sldprt and still unsure which one is the latest.
- Sharing design files with manufacturing via email. Unsure who has access to what files.
- Manufacturing is still building with the old revision, because they are not sure which revision is the latest.
- Unsure who is working on what designs.
- Unsure about the status of designs.
- Taking change requests via email. Losing track of what needs to be changed.
What is PDM software for SolidWorks and how can it help with these symptoms?
What is PDM Software for SolidWorks?
At its core, a PDM software is used to take product information that has historically been stored in various Excel workbooks or emails and puts it all in one place so engineers can work better together.
PDM software is used to manage CAD files and control product data. For example, you have a SolidWorks file part.sldprt. Unless you have SolidWorks already open, you know very little except the name of the file. If you want to know more about this file, you need to open it with SolidWorks. SolidWorks takes a while to open and not everyone involved with the design process has a SolidWorks viewer. You can think of the file as not just a file, but a representation of a product. This product also has more information. For example, most products have a part number, a supplier, a cost, a status (in progress, under review, released). This file has information that can be connected and easily accessed in PDM software. This allows teams to understand information about this product so they can make better decisions, work faster, and lower costs or increase the revenue of the company.
Key features
Some notable features of a PDM Software include:
- CAD Version Control: Many PDM software’s have the check-out check-in process to control versioning. When you want to work on a design file, you check it out. It is then locked in the archive so no one else can edit. This avoids two people working on the same design and overriding changes. When you are done with your changes, you check it back in. You then add a version comment to say what changed. Your changes are stored as a new version. You can always go back to previous versions.
- Access management: Controlling access to CAD designs is critical. The whole company does not need to see the design files. It is important to control who can see design files and who can do what with design files. Some PDM software’s have permission controls to control who can edit CAD files and who can only view CAD files.
- Part numbering: Part numbering can be automated in a PDM software to make it easier to create and search for parts by part number.
- Revisions and Releases: Identifying revisions is also critical to working better as a team. Traditionally this has come in the form of naming the file ..._RevA. To “release” files maybe you share a zip file containing all the released CAD designs. PDM software has tools to control status and Revisions, so they are easily identified.
- Sharing and notifications: Sharing status changes, details about a CAD design, or releases can get lost in emails. Keeping that information stored in PDM software via comments, descriptions attached to design files, or shareable links can make it easier to keep everyone on the same page.
Differences: SolidWorks PDM vs Vistapoint PDM
When looking for PDM software that works with SolidWorks you could compare SolidWorks PDM vs Vistapoint PDM. Vistapoint PDM was created by Open Domain to be the easy to use, better value, bigger impact PDM alternative. Below are a couple of key differences of Vistapoint PDM for SolidWorks users considering which PDM software to use.
- Cloud: Vistapoint PDM can be easily deployed to the cloud. Cloud deployment is a good option for teams that don’t have the IT resources or knowledge to host or maintain hardware.
- Ease of use: Vistapoint PDM is focused on providing user with superior ease of use. Modern UI, and a simplified layout help users to work easier, get start quicker, and minimize the cost of training and onboarding.
- Better value: Managing CAD files shouldn’t cost. Vistapoint PDM has packages for smaller budgets requiring less features and larger budgets who want more control.
- Bigger impact: Vistapoint PDM allows you to not only manage CAD files, but other files as well. You can keep everything in one place making it easier to manage systems and control files.
- Multi-CAD: Vistapoint PDM supports several CAD systems such as AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Inventor, Revit, and more so that you can manage all of your designs in one place.
- Flexibility: Vistapoint PDM is built in with flexibility to adjust to your workflow. Workspace templates allow you to get started with default folder structure and permissions. Index fields allow you to customize the information you see about your design files.
- Less IT resources, easier to get started: Ease of management and cloud storage options allow you to minimize the impact on IT resources and save on costs.
- Web-based: Since Vistapoint is web-based you can receive updates in real time and access from anywhere.
Getting started with Vistapoint PDM
Getting started is easy with Vistapoint PDM, you can get a demo or start by requesting a free trial. When you get a demo, you will have the chance to get a product tour with an expert. You will discuss your current challenges with managing CAD files and see if Vistapoint PDM is the right fit. If you want to go directly to try it out, you can request a free trial. An expert will then start preparing a Vistapoint instance and contact you when your trial is ready for you to get started.
Conclusion
Becoming a better engineer means using the right tools for the trade. PDM software is the next step for engineers looking to have better control over their CAD designs. There are several options of PDM software for SolidWorks users. Vistapoint PDM is a next generation PDM software that takes the complex task of managing SolidWorks files and makes it simple. Consider Vistapoint PDM if you want PDM software that is easier to use, cloud deployed, with better value and can make a bigger impact. Vistapoint PDM is ideal for smaller teams looking to control everything in one place. To learn more, visit Vistapoint PDM.