Managing SolidWorks Configurations
The next sections describe how SOLIDWORKS configurations are managed in Windchill.
SOLIDWORKS Configurations can be used to create multiple variations of a part or an assembly within a single model. Each assembly or part has at least one Configuration. These Configurations reside in the model file. Some applications of Configurations might be:
• To generate a family of screws based on existing parameters.
• To create models in different states, such as sheet metal flat patterns.
• To create specific views of a model or an assembly.
In Windchill, configurations are managed as a "family" of objects (or Family Table). When referring to how configurations are managed in Windchill, the following terms are used:
• Generic – A part or assembly that is used by Windchill as a basis for creating model configurations. In Windchill, a generic is represented as a generic CAD document. The generic CAD document holds the SOLIDWORKS model file that contains the configurations.
• Instance – An instance represents the SOLIDWORKS Configuration in Windchill.
Configurations are created either manually from the Configuration Manager, or by editing a Design Table. The Design Table defines variations of a model such that each row of the table represents a configuration, and columns represent varied parameters. Typically, the Design Table is embedded in a model as an Excel spreadsheet.
In Windchill, an external Design Table spreadsheet (that is linked to the model), is added as an attachment to the generic.