Learn how to review your files with 3DEXPERIENCE's simplified process.
Introduction
Creating and tracking revisions is essential in industrial companies. A classic example is a company that distributes and manufactures Revision A of a part and sells it to its customers. At some point, you'll need to modify the part and publish Revision B.
The 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides a robust revision management mechanism that's
easy to set up and maintain.
Please note: Revisions should only be used to track the history of the design. If you wish to explore different design ideas, you must use revision branches.
Step 1: understanding the object maturity cycle
The use of revision must be part of a design -> validation -> distribution process, so it is intimately linked to the life cycle of your SOLIDWORKS files.
Each file saved on 3DEXPERIENCE has the following states of maturity:
- in Work: this is the default state - you can freely modify and save the object.
- Frozen: this is a temporary state - the object is read-only. You can always return to the "In progress" state.
Used when the part is awaiting validation. This prevents your colleagues from accidentally modifying the file, if it is used in other assemblies.
- Released: this is a definitive state. It is not possible to return to the "In work" or "Frozen" status. The file is read-only forever.
Usually, you launch an object to indicate that it is going into production, and create the associated STEP, PDF or DXF files...
The usual process is as follows:
Step : Create revisions when working with SOLIDWORKS
1. Save your assembly on 3DEXPERIENCE
Windows is not equipped with tools for editing CAD files, so these are only available when saving to 3DEXPERIENCE.
2. Modify the maturity
Go to the Bookmark Editor application or the "3DEXPERIENCE" tab of SOLIDWOKRS and double click on the maturity to modify it.
Change to "Frozen" if you want to create a revision, but it has not yet been published.
Change to "Released" if it will be manufactured and you are creating the STEP, PDF...
3. Modify design in SOLIDWORKS
You can immediately start making changes in SOLIDWORKS.
When saving, as the components are "Released", SOLIDWORKS will block the save operation, unless you create a new revision on the modified files.
Click the "New revision" checkbox on modified components.
Tip: you don't need to create a new revision of ALL components, just revise the ones that have been modified. The others will be reused.
4. Save to increment revision
After registration, Revision B is created and returns to "In work" status.
Revision A has not been modified and remains accessible.
Step 3 : Access to previous revisions
The easiest way to view all revisions and switch between them is to use "Replace with revision" :
You will then see all the revisions:
You can choose to automatically update all the revisions of an assembly:
Warning: Revisions are not configurations! You must therefore always work on the latest revision. You cannot open revisions A and B at the same time in SOLIDWORKS.
To go further - settings
Go further by customizing your settings so that they better suit your workflow: Revision management settings.
Conclusion
Whether you work alone or as part of a large team, revisions help you keep track of your designs, what you've sent to your suppliers or your 3D printer.
It's built into SOLIDWORKS, and it's the new standard in design.
Need help?
We look forward to hearing from you! Contact us at support@xdinnovation.eu