CAD Collaboration

[umer936]

Our CAD team primarily works from their own computers, so we use a Version Control system. We use SOLIDWORKS for our CAD software.

What we've done in the past is use a SVN repository hosted on one of our mentor's servers and use TortoiseSVN for each member's computer.

Unfortunately, last year our robot assembly broke and we lost time tracking down why it broke.

One thing that I noticed is that we were not using the "Lock" part of SVN to lock another file from being edited while someone else is editing it; however, I'm still uncertain what would happen if one person is editing a part while another edits an assembly with that part in it. Would it break the assembly?

I know SVN and Git are great for code (I have many years of Git experience), but I feel like there could be a better tool for CAD files since they cannot be merged like code files.

I was wondering what other teams use to keep CAD files in sync between collaborators. I read through old threads but they haven't been responded to in years.

Reading through the old threads gave me alternative methods such as using a Google Doc where people list what files they are working on or alternative collaboration software like SOLIDWORKS PDM or PTC Windchill.

Does anyone use SVN, PDM, or Windchill for managing CAD files? What are the pros/cons of each?

Thanks!

[Sperkowsky]

We use grab cad which works pretty well. Wish it had slack integration though.

[DBMJ99]

We used a google docs account last year to have a common set of files. That worked pretty well. This year we are using grabcad and I am really happy with it. It does all the revision tracking that Svn does but it also has really good features on the website. Members of our team who do not use cad (like the build group) can acces the robot model without having to install or learn solidworks. It also does a nice job with providing a forum to have discussions about design issues and allows annotations on drawings.

It is still easy to break assemblies etc. which I think is more a function of solidworks. We lock all the files in our common parts library to make sure they don't get changed. We use the "pack and go" function in solidworks to make complete copies of our robot to work on potential designs in parallel with the main design and then fold the results into the main robot when we are happy with them.

[Cam877]

We use the Solidworks PDM vault, and couldn't be happier with it. Makes the process so much easier, if you take the time to learn how to use it.

[Chak]

I have little experience in other CAD collaboration software, but my team started to use GrabCAD this year and it's great. In the past we've used Dropbox, but we didn't like it. Dropbox is useful for sharing final files for viewing, but using it on a work in progress is annoying. In comparison, GrabCAD:

• has unlimited space while being completely free
• has a Solidworks plug-in that allows you to update files that are already opened in Solidworks. That doesn't solve conflicting versions, but it does allow someone with the assembly to update the individual parts without closing and re-opening it.
• Within the online 3D viewer, GrabCAD also lets you measure distances and compare different versions overlaid on top of each other.
• lets you create a "partner folder" to create a public link to one of your projects, allowing you to share your CAD files online. It's similar to Google Drive, but it's better because the receiver would be able to view the CAD online before deciding whether to download it to view in greater detail.

I don't know about other CAD collaboration software, but GrabCAD is great and our team will continue to use GrabCAD for collaboration.

[sanddrag]

Autodesk Vault with Autodesk Inventor. It works very well locally, but is not great for sharing things off site.

[Dibit1010]

We use Dropbox and since our CAD team is only about 4 people that works well. If someone breaks the assembly they just don't upload it to the account.

[Michael Hill]

We switched from SolidWorks Workgroup PDM to GrabCAD this year. I think it worked out well for us. The problem we have is slow internet at our shop. Because of its location, we're forced to get business class from Time Warner, but even the lowest priced one is fairly expensive. GrabCAD has a special ability to use a computer on your local network as a server, but it will also sync with the GrabCAD servers. If you enable peer to peer sharing, it solves all the problems. The disadvantage of Workgroup PDM is you have to choose 1 server, and it will either be one on your local network or out of it. The server inside the networks works fine while in the shop, but when you want to work on the design at home, it's not easy when you have slow internet. You have basically the same problem if you set up a server outside of the network.