SolidWorks PDM Overview

Objective: To understand how SolidWorks PDM functions at a high level in conjunction with Duro. 

Difficulty: Easy

In this article:

1. Features
2. Benefits
3. Creating Components in Duro from SolidWorks PDM
4. Releasing Components from SolidWorks PDM

Duro's Add-in for SolidWorks Product Data Management (PDM) allows hardware engineering teams to seamlessly release their important SolidWorks design revisions and production files to Duro's centralized hub. From within Duro, product stakeholders across different teams can process the released information, generate Change Orders, and better act on the latest released revisions. Overall, Duro ties your entire organization together, helping you accelerate from design to production.

Download the latest version of SolidWorks Add-in here.

Features:

Pull Part Number: Associate SolidWorks files with Duro Customer Part Numbers (CPN) and instantly create new component listings in the Duro Web Application.

Release: Publish approved revisions to the centralized Duro Web Application, build a history of releases, and store important production files. Release components in Prototype, Production, and Obsolete stages directly within the add-in.

Library: Search your entire active library of parts and assemblies in the Duro PLM Web Application.

Benefits:

Attribute Synchronization: Provides you with the ability to manage properties and synchronize with SW custom properties.

Fluid integration: Designers are not required to switch apps when creating or releasing components. 

Creating Components in Duro from SolidWorks PDM

In order to create components in Duro from SolidWorks CAD, please follow the below steps.

1. Log into your Duro account.
2. Click on Components in the left navigation to view your component library.
3. Sign in to the SolidWorks Duro add-in with your Duro credentials.
4. Click on the globe icon in the toolbar to show the task pane tab.
5. Highlight the desired components or component assembly and click on the Check Out icon. This action will automatically populate the Check Out window.
6. Select the component or component assembly you're working on and click on Check Out at the bottom of the window when you're finished. 
7. Click on the Duro icon in the toolbar.
8. Select the desired components using the checkbox located to the right of the component title in the task pane tab.
9. Click on # Pull Part No.
10. In Step 1 of 2 of the Set Category window that generates, select the appropriate category for each coordinating component from the dropdown menu.
11. Click on Continue.
12. In Step 2 of the Set Category window, double-check your data to ensure it is correct.
13. Click Done.
14. Your data will automatically upload to Duro. You can view the uploaded components and assemblies in your Duro library.

For a video tutorial of this process, please watch the below YouTube video.

Releasing Components from SolidWorks PDM to Duro

In order to release components from SolidWorks PDM to Duro, please follow the below instructions. 

1. Log into your Duro account.
2. Click on Components in the left navigation to view your component library.
3. Sign in to the SolidWorks Duro add-in with your Duro credentials.
4. Navigate to the task pane tab.
5. Click on the globe icon in the toolbar to show the task pane tab.
6. Highlight the desired components or component assembly and click on the Check-In icon. This action will automatically populate the Check-In window.
7. Ensure that the selected components are listed in the Check-In window. 
8. Click on Check In at the bottom of the window.
9. Click on the Duro icon in the toolbar.
10. Select the desired components using the checkbox located to the right of the component title in the task pane tab.
11. Click on # Release.
12. In the Release window that automatically generates, enter the release name and any coordinating notes in the text boxes.
13. Check the box for Include Production Files.
14. Check the box for Include Source Files.
15. Select a method of procurement for each component, either Make or Buy. 
16. Click on the # Release.
17. Double-check your information and click on Done.
18. In the Duro property card, click on the hyperlinked CPN of the component we just released to Duro. This will reroute you to the component page in Duro.
19. Refresh the webpage.
20. View the revision table by clicking on the history icon in the toolbar at the top of the component page.
21. Now, there are line item(s) showing the data you just released to Duro. 

For a video tutorial of this process, please watch the below YouTube video.

For information on how to install and uninstall SolidWorks, visit our SolidWorks Add-in Installation File.