SmarTeam Tips - Design Copy Tool in SolidWorks |
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Most SmarTeam sites have or will soon update their systems to V5R10. This update introduced a host of new capabilities. One of the most useful is the Design Copy function. It is not often that designs start with a white sheet of paper. Most new products are based on existing ones. The purpose of Design Copy is to “clone” an assembly. It automates the repetitive parts of design reuse. In a typical scenario we have a new design that is the same as an existing product, just one part is changing. Nothing should change but the top level assembly, the modified part and the associated documentation.
In conventional Solidworks you would need to make copies of each of the files that are going to change, give them new names, and then replace the old with the new. When it is time to check this new assembly into SmarTeam, the attribute data would have to be re-entered. There are a lot of manual steps and re-keying of data therefore the process is slow and prone to errors. With Design Copy, you can select the files you wish to copy and the system will do the rest. Design Copy will create a new top level assembly or drawing. It will keep the links to the files that do not change and copy, rename and replace the files that do. It will also automatically link the new parts assemblies and drawings into the SmarTeam structure. The attribute information in the profile cards is copied to the new items. This gives you a starting point from which you can edit the information to the specifics of the new items.
In the example shown, the top level assembly, two parts and associated drawings will be cloned. All other components will be linked as they were in the original assembly. In order to activate Design copy on your system, some minor system configuration must be done by your administrator. The documentation for the changes are in the V5R10 release package, or you can call InFlow and we will give you a hand setting up this time saving new feature.
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