CAD Model Lifecycle

The CAD model is processed by moving it through the states in its lifecycle. For example, in the first state, a new CAD model is created and connected to the appropriate change objects and part objects. The Design Engineer then performs whatever CAD work is necessary to generate the new file(s) and checks them into the CAD model object. The owner of the CAD model then promotes it to the Frozen state.

Only users with these roles within the same collaborate space as the CAD model can change its state:

  • Baseline: Author, Leader, or Owner role
  • App-specific : Component Engineer, Design Engineer, Senior Design Engineer, Product Obsolescence Manager, Part Family Coordinator

If the CAD model is in a route, the route may be set up to prevent the CAD model from being promoted until the route is complete.

The CAD Model lifecycle includes these states:

This page discusses:

In Work

New CAD models are created in the In Work state. A CAD model's name can be automatically generated or calculated by the owner. In either case the Create New CAD model page is used to generate the CAD model and connect it to the appropriate ECO and part objects.

The owner performs whatever CAD work is necessary to generate the new file(s), then checks them into the object and promotes it to the Frozen state.

As the CAD model leaves the In Work state, the following checks are fired:

  • The CAD model must have a file connected.
  • If the CAD model is connected to a part as a specification, the CAD model must be connected to a change action or change order. Only one CA can be connected to the CAD model with "For Release" as the Requested Change value.
  • All earlier revisions of this CAD model must be at the Released state.

If these checks pass, the CAD model will be promoted to the next state.

Frozen

The CAD model is reviewed and approved from the Frozen state by the Responsible Manufacturing Engineer. The review should include viewing its file(s). The permissions in this state do not allow any new files to be checked into the CAD model. Once the Responsible Manufacturing Engineer is satisfied that the CAD model correctly defines the part(s) it is intended to specify, s/he promotes it to the Released state. The owner is also allowed to promote if the owner belongs to the same project and organization.

If the CAD model is connected to a part with the "Part Specification" relationship, then there must be a CA connected to the CAD model before it can be promoted to the Released state. No associated CA is necessary if the CAD model is not connected to a part, or if it is connected to a part with the "Reference Document" relationship only.

Note: Users with the Author role cannot promote development phase parts, production phase parts, CAD models, CAD drawings, drawing prints, or part specification from Frozen to Approved.

Approved

After the CAD model enters the Approved state, all proposed changes connected to the CAD model's CA are checked to see if they are also in the Approved state. If all proposed changes are in the Approved state, the CA is automatically promoted to the Frozen state. If any single proposed change connected to the CA is in a state prior to Approved, the CA is not promoted to the Frozen state.

Note: Users with the Author role cannot demote development phase parts, production phase parts, CAD models, CAD drawings, drawing prints, or part specification from Approved to Frozen.

Released

As a CAD model enters the Released state, an Action fires that disconnects all Part Specification relationships between the previous revision of this CAD model and its parts then connects identical Drawing Specification relationships between those same parts and this CAD model. This process has the same effect as if float were defined on the TO end of the Part Specification relationship.

Another Action also fires as the CAD model enters the Released state that automatically changes the owner of the CAD model to be a special user in the system, "Corporate." This locks down the CAD model so no additional changes can be made and it removes the CAD model from the engineer's desk.

In the Released state, no disconnections of any relationships are allowed. Connections are however permitted to CR objects that want to revise the CAD model.