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A part numbering system that works

6/29/2016

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​Engineers often view part numbers as a bureaucratic process forced on them by the sales department of the company but they can have far-reaching efficiency and legal complications. 

Part numbers: so simple, what could possibly go wrong? Just ask Ray DeGiorgio, the GM engineer who infamously approved a change to a higher torque switch without changing the part number.

Part numbers are the inevitable result of any manufacturing company.  Too often laced with their profusion of spaces, dashes, slashes and sub-codes, they are designed to trip up the unwary.  They serve a useful function of separating variations on parts and mean to ensure that the correct part out of many with a similar description is the one that is ordered.  Their primary purpose is to remove ambiguity. Does your system:
  • Prevent part number confusion?
  • Simplify file naming?
  • Easily distinguish between similar parts with similar descriptions?
  • Detect BOM errors.?
  • Allow for part numbering, file naming and part description automation?

If you want your system to thrive under any amount of growth, you will want:
  • little to no training needed to generate new part numbers,
  • resistance to files being compromised by poor discipline,
  • that the same part can be used in different projects without any friction,
  • no missing CAD program file references,
  • that anyone can easily search for and find a desired part,
  • it to handle any logistical situation without choking, and
  • cad files to be effortlessly absorbed into future PLM or ERP systems.
 
Sounds like a fantasy? Well, it is hardly necessary to describe the eye-watering costs to a company using a poor part numbering system, not to mention the huge effort to change to a good part numbering system after thousands of parts are already in the supply chain and in customer's hands. You’ve heard of the Apollo 13 mission where a single un-insulated wire resulted in exploding oxygen bottles, an aborted moon landing and the astronauts barely making it back with their lives. Just keep that story foremost in mind when you design your company’s part numbering system.

Take advantage of our experience working with many companies in all sorts of industries and ponder the following topics:
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Part numbers, once created, endure. If the company is successful then fifty years after the manufacture of the components and the publishing of the parts list a junior employee will get a phone call and will be expected to provide a replacement based on the information identified by the part number.

Intelligent Part Number Systems: Often companies like to have a system with an inbuilt code that can be used to determine the part number of an unknown part if the descriptive information and the format is known.  They were especially common in the pre-computer days but have no real place in the modern production systems.  These “intelligent” part number systems tend to cause pain that outweighs any of the perceived benefits but they seem to take on a life of their own and cannot be easily killed. Why do we here at Ubique insist that this is so bad and unnecessary?
  • Difficult to change - Often the scheme does not allow the part number to change when the part undergoes a design change that affects just the inner detail of the part.  An improved part that does not fail early will be given the same part number as the obsolete part. 
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No spot for revision level. The next revision is the same number.​
  • Off by one-digit error - can result in a plausible looking part being ordered by mistake.  If upon final assembly, it is discovered that the box of bolts needed is one size too large or small for the threaded holes the delay can be costly.
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The part we want
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The part we get with an off by one error and a schemed system. Way too easy to overlook!
  • Part Reuse - a manufactured part on a different size or different product line can result in two different part numbers being valid for the same item and will create unnecessary confusion when floor staff constantly sends memos to engineering that the wrong part number for this size of equipment has been specified.
  • Ordering of non-existent parts - it possible for an order for a non-existent part to be accepted by sales.  An electrical box larger than the maximum size available in the range was specified, quoted and later ordered on a just in time basis.  Two weeks after the order was placed the customer was notified that it was not possible to deliver since neither the design nor the tooling existed.

It is worth looking at optimizing or revisiting part numbers at the start of the manufacturing process.  As the number of self-similar parts grows, a company relying on descriptive names realizes that the names are becoming the long flowing titles of many a cheap Victorian novel – duplication ensues.  Assigning a controller would seem to be needed, but often in companies at this size the desire to hire a person for just this specific task is weak.  The result is the creation of an “intelligent” part number system.  A set of rules that anyone in the company can follow to generate a unique part number. These systems often have problems with change, especially when there is a change to a part after the initial design has shipped to customers.    Eventually, any “intelligent” part numbering system encounters a need its designers did not anticipate.  This is the primary reason we advocate the next sequential number system.  (Sometimes referred to as sequential random numbers.)  In this system, whenever a part number is required, a service supplies the next number.
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Sequential Part Number System: Here's what we suggest for a company to use on their cad/part numbering system that will provide minimum friction and maximum flexibility. Imagine the system that will stay exactly the same no matter how large or complicated your product range grows. The next sequential number system is easy to implement, simple to automate and ‘soldier-proof’
  • Never run out of part numbers - Some companies have had the sequential numbers grow to seven or eight digits and no one has reported running out of integers yet. (Avoid the urge to back-fill skipped numbers; there is no requirement to use every number). Consequently, the system is scalable.
  • An off by one-digit error results in an order for a box of 50, #10-32 screws being replaced by an order for 50, 1.35m slew bearings.  A problem, admittedly, but much more likely to be caught by purchasing or the shop floor at an early stage.
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  • Easy to implement - The next number can be served from a simple webpage, custom SOLIDWORKS® add-in, (see button below) easily incorporated into an inventory system or generated by a service such as SOLIDWORKS® PDM Professional
  • File Names created early - Because they can be used early in the design process there is no need for temporary file names or place holders. No missing CAD links to fix. If the design changes then new numbers can always be issued to the new files.  There is a very low marginal cost to assigning a part number.
  • Tie the part number to the principal drawing file name and not the part file or configuration.  When the part is revised and the part number changes it will be easier to do a save as with the drawing file and let PDM manage the model file revisions.
  • Multiple uses - One of the benefits of next serial number generation is that the numbers can be used for more than ‘part’ numbers – they can be used for file names, document names, memos, notes, etc.
  • Custom Properties - Why try to stuff (maximum) 12 pieces of unique information into the part number/filename when the metadata in each file can hold 50,000? With computers, you can search for, filter for and show any of this information. Embed them anywhere on a drawing sheet.

Power Failure: An argument for the “intelligent” systems is that in the advent of a power failure it is possible to determine what the part is without using a computer.  Power failures have become rare events and as a general rule our dependence on electricity so great that most businesses would close early if the power does not return quickly.  For these rare cases, the solution is to tie the part number to the main drawing number.

Conclusion: Take care to set up your file and part-numbering system properly at the beginning and the effort will repay itself many times over. If you are dissatisfied with your current system or having troubles preparing files for a PDM vault implementation then we have tools to help, just call 604-986-9696 and ask for Marc.

Serial/Part number generator
References Manager for SOLIDWORKS®
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Dan Andrews
VP Delivery
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THE CASE TO STANDARDIZE YOUR SOLIDWORKS® PART MODELING

1/7/2016

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Does your design department all work to a standard SOLIDWORKS® modeling method.....or is everyone going about it their own way with their own opinion of what is best? If so, you've likely run into these ongoing frustrations:
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  • Part models are too busy and complicated to understand,
  • Assembly models are fragile, especially towards the end of the project,
  • Drawings take a long time to dimension
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I mean, some of these people will show incredible creativity with their choice of part modeling techniques.  You have to admire the talent it took to get a feature sketch to reference an unnamed sketch further down the tree, to have that controlling dimension reference a reference dimension in another sketch, that is referenced to a fourth sketch and in the fourth sketch the dimension is controlled by an equation.  The variables in that equation are pulling from Custom Properties and the Design Table. 
What exactly is the fallout to your design department when people can't easily make the simplest changes to many part models and choose that it's faster redoing them from scratch? Assemblies blow apart from seemingly innocent changes to parts? Drawings require time-consuming dimensioning ....but haven't you done this work once already in the model?
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If you can identify the above scenarios as directly causing your project milestones to fail, your needing to stay after working hours dissecting other people's puzzling cad files and being mortally afraid of what a newly hired designer or contractor will do to your models, then your department could be a candidate for a robust and standardized SOLIDWORKS® modeling method.

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Can you imagine everyone is CAD modeling in such a predictable and professional manner that;
  1. Part models have the design intent so well captured that anyone can quickly understand them and easily predict the effect of changes,
  2. Assembly models have parts mated so that geometry changes leave them intact and error-free
  3. Drawings are dimensioned instantly, even when you delete and re-insert views
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Are you intrigued? Well then read on, because the following is a description of how we at Ubique perform all of our modeling for customers, and shows the standard to which we train our on-site contractors before they work on other's projects.
 



Step 1 - Make a first sketch, choosing the orientation that captures the most important design intent and features. Notice the neatly-arranged dimensions.

Step 2 - make one or more additional sketches in descending priority, relating back to the previous sketch elements. Give them meaningful names (Front Layout) and colors

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​​ Step 3 - Relate all of your features to the sketch elements - avoid typing values for depth etc.

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Step 4 - Name and comment in your features, use the Design Binder and Hole Wizard exclusively. Take advantage of symmetry to reduce modeling.
 




​Step 5 - Mate the parts into the assembly using reference geometry, not faces. This is why you so carefully identified design intent in the layout sketches
 
 
 
 
Step 6 - Make drawing views using the Insert Model Items command. Your dimensions will be neatly inserted into all views, Shift-Drag any dimensions to a view you prefer, and Use the Auto Arrange tool to quickly tidy them all up. You won't need to insert a single dimension manually.

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The downstream efficiencies of this method pay back your time many-fold. The outstanding benefits of following with discipline what we call the “Ubique Modeling Method” are that all your designers can repurpose models any of your people have made, well into the future. They're easy to understand, mate robustly into assemblies and produce drawings rapidly. 

Designers, if you recognize a need for these advantages in your department, I encourage you to show this video to your manager:

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​We even have an in-depth training program to efficiently and thoroughly teach this method - check out the Cad Mentoring Program for SOLIDWORKS


​

 



​​Dan Andrews
VP Delivery


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Press Release: Ubique Mechanical Design Inc. Announces Recruiting / Staffing Service

11/12/2015

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Do you need Temporary Contractors, Employee placement or Contractors for hire? Ubique now offers Recruiting and Staffing Services with a difference! 

We test and train for technical skills, especially SOLIDWORKS™ productivity. We personally guide and mentor placement personnel so that you know they're ready for the job. 


Please click here  if you would like to learn more. 
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Our Test of Windows 10

8/17/2015

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Since the Windows 10 roll out is starting, many people who actually use computers for a living are wondering if they should upgrade.  We tested Windows 10 on a computer so that you do not have to be first.

There is a good caveat on dealing with any software coming from Microsoft – Watch out for the default behaviour.

The first issue is that if you have a HP with Client Security, File Shredder, or an encrypted drive you will have to decrypt and remove these applications before you can upgrade.  No word as of yet from HP as to when Windows 10 compatible versions will be available.

Install of Windows 10 went rather smoothly.  Easier than previous versions of Windows and everything other than the above mentioned items remained installed.  Microsoft has even improved the indication of percentage complete in that it seems to represent a much better estimate of the time remaining. During the process you will get options to set up a Wi-Fi network and set options.  There will be more on security options below, but it would seem that, for at least some of these settings, Microsoft will just ignore your input and use the defaults instead.

Microsoft seems to have put some sort of a pre-cache on boot up for Favourites and Recent Places. Since often people EPDM local views are here this will result in a rather long time staring at a completely blank screen before the EPDM log in pops up and you can set off-line mode or log in to continue.   For most of you, there will be only a single Vault and you will be connected to the network that it is on so this should be a minor issue.  However, for the record, if you have a couple of dozen local views from Vaults on different networks that you cannot simultaneous connect to from one network this part of the process will be longer than the rest of the install.  This is only a first time event. Subsequent restarts do not have the same delay.  On the HP Zbook 17 this was tested on boot time with Windows 10 was noticeably less than Windows 7.

Security – This has never been Microsoft’s strong point and they seem to have gone to efforts to weaken it.

The first thing you will wish to turn off is Wi-Fi Sense.  This was one of things that you were presented in the install options, but as mentioned MS seems to ignore your selection and turn it on by default.  From the Start Menu, click on Settings, Network and Internet, Wi-Fi and scroll down to the bottom and click on Manage Wif-Fi Settings.

The first selection is to connect you to any open hotspot.  Having this on is generally not a good idea.

The second is a little bit more insidious.  Give and get access to networks you or your contact share without having to reveal passwords.  This does not seem too bad until you drill down to the fine print: This includes even your Facebook contacts – Even that guy named Slarti Bartfast that you forgot you accepted an invite from.  I would hope that there is a group policy that will prevent this from being turned on, but for now,01 on the Settings is the best place to do this. Additionally, Microsoft is off-loading some of the bandwidth of its servers onto the users.  There is a setting under the advanced options for the update settings to download and serve Windows updates to other computers in the local network and internet.  While a business case can be made for serving updates between computers in your local network the option to also share and receive is a security risk and should be disabled.

It would also be good to review the settings under Privacy, Updates and Security.  These will have been reset to Microsoft defaults.

Microsoft loves the idea of everyone to have a Microsoft account.  For some things you do need one but they would like you to use it for everything.  If you are using something like Office 365 you will have to log into your Microsoft account in order to activate the Office 365 install.  When you do so, Windows will switch you from using your ‘local’ password to log onto the computer to using your Microsoft account password.  Currently this happens with no warning and upon reboot you will need to know your Microsoft account password.  It is possible to toggle the log in back to the local account from the settings message but it would appear that any subsequent use of a Microsoft account on the computer will toggle the log-in back to using the Microsoft account.

This comes with a few included ‘features’ (bugs) that mean that if a Microsoft account log in is allowed then anyone designated as ‘Family or Friend’ on the Microsoft account may also be able to log into the account.

Fortunately, there is a solution.  After logging in with one Microsoft account (if needed for any Office 365 or other MS application use), use the Settings, Account to toggle back to local account.  Then go into the Group Policy Editor and change the settings for Accounts: Block Microsoft Accounts as shown.  This will restrict log in credential to local or domain settings.















We tested the Zbook with SolidWorks 2014 SP5.0, 2015 SP4.0.  At this point in time SolidWorks has not officially announced compatibility with Windows 10 and it should be noted that for many of the higher-end graphics cards there are no Windows 10 compatible drivers.  (Caveat:  This was a test to see what issues are likely to occur.  At this point in time upgrading to Windows 10 should be considered experimental and not recommended procedure.)

As for the SolidWorks testing the surprising information was that there was no surprise. Everything seems to perform as expected.  SolidWorks 2014 Benchmark results: 13/39/23/75.  This is essentially the same as under Windows 7.  EPDM connects and performs as expected.  Did not test Office plug-in. SolidWorks update manager connects and downloads as expected.  Activation Wizard can transfer and activate licence.

General notes on Windows 10 itself:  The boot time is quicker, especially to the log screen. Bluetooth connectivity has improved.  I am not sure how they pulled it off, but I can walk away further from the computer with headphones before they disconnect.

Windows Media Player loses entire library and will not preserve library location or setting.Windows 10 has a new player called Groove.  It feels like a beta release.  Sound quality has improved and it will play a broader range of audio file types.

VOIP phone does not function.

Learning this system will be fun for IT departments trying to maintain data security.  Windows10 is like your own in-house hacker trying to leak information out.

HP fingerprint reader is non-functioning.

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The advantages of using GD&T( Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) in your drawings- My story

7/3/2014

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Here’s the job I was working on a while ago – a massive yet incredibly precise granite beam held in place with M20 tie-rods in an anchor plate. The clearance holes in the beam were Ø30mm, so... lots of room, right?

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I did the drawing using classical tolerancing, which should have been fine. A ±0.01" tolerance should be more than needed to clear in case the holes weren’t perfectly straight.
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This is how the tie-rods looked in the manufactured plate – GAAAK - not straight and there’s no way this will fit in the granite beam.  (It was tapped by hand!!!!). The shop apologized and remade the plates with straighter tapped holes and it worked. They only had to remake the two plates. Of course the schedule took a hit
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Here’s the thing in this case, and many others – there are some serious disadvantages with classical dimensioning.

  • There’s no way to say how straight the holes need to be. What should I have said...... "pretty darned straight?" Anyway, on a very shallow granite beam, this would have been just fine.
  • It was only two plates – what if it was 1,000? The vendor could rightly have decided not to remake them, a huge financial loss.


So I redid the drawings using GD&T, as below. This is a 3-D system that ensures there only one way to measure and verify the part. In this case, it allowed me the following benefits:

 
  • I could loosen up the unnecessary tolerance to 0.030" from 0.010", saving manufacturing cost
  • I could tighten up the tolerance where needed, by specifying a PTZ (Projected Tolerance Zone ⓟ) on the axis of the tapped hole.
  • This saves money and time, as the requirement is unambiguous and the part will be delivered correctly the first time. Well, lets just say if not....... it won't be my fault!
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See the red axis boundary indicators (below) that the PTZ represents? This ensures that the cap plate will fit over the rods, but still allows the straightness of the hole to vary. Less rejects, less cost, less-stringent manufacturing, more accepted pieces.
Ta-daaaa.

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Solidworks Simulation 2014

2/28/2014

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We find this blog post inside Solidworks Blog 
"Virtual simulation is now used as a 3D concurrent engineering tool by product engineers during each phase of the Product development cycle. To make the implementation of virtual simulation smoother and to get the full benefits of simulation while you are designing, you need to have in your hands both intuitive and powerful FEA software. The article also give us a sneak peak on the 2014 performance improvements: 

1. A new solver for large models

The 2014 release includes, for all users, a new robust solver called “Large problem Direct Sparse Solver.” This solver is tailored to models that contain millions of degrees of freedom so you can efficiently solve simulations for large models, parts or assemblies.


2. Large speed up in the Iterative Solver
SolidWorks Simulation 2014 boosts your calculations with a large speed-up of the iterative solver, which again is available to all users. The new version improves the multi-core support at a rate of around 10-15% and the convergence speed of contact simulations up to 40%!" 

You can read the whole article here



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Reasons to job search

2/24/2014

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Changing jobs by your choice or not is possibly the most difficult situation we can experience during our adult lives. If we are terminated, the sum of all fears come together in an instant sitting in your managers office listening to their business decisions. The cold sweat, the ringing in your ears as you try to figure out when your medical benefits will end. You ask yourself, "why me? I was always" .....(insert best qualities here). The sum of all fears come together in an instant that hold your life together. You visualize your bills, your rent or mortgage payments, car payments, dollar symbols flash before your eyes. You think about your family, all the responsibilities they bring you, your vacation time as well as all of the other things you have earned that have defined your life. Now what?

Even when we choose to leave our jobs for a new one, the process for many is just as stressful. We fear the probationary period, we experience job changing remorse and second guess ourselves until all hours of the night. Typically we do not leave our current roles for new ones until we are so fed up with the nonsense of that job or the boss it can be a very bitter ending indeed. I hope to guide you through the career changing process with this blog and show you that there is a better way to feel and operate in these life changing situations. It can be done in a more positive and successful transition that will leave you feeling much better about this whole process.

Some people are constantly passively searching for their next role. They might be career gypsies that enjoy movement and constant change. In a way, I admire their courage but I am stuck on the other side of the coin worrying about what perceptions my resume might leave with a future potential employer. Others are simply not happy so they feel constant change of work environment may lead them to that perfect setting where they will retire. From my experience as a recruiter and career developer, they are likely in the wrong careers in the first place! Still others move from one role to the next to develop their work experience in their chosen field and this is a necessary part of that growth.

Could any of the above describe how you feel at this moment? Desire for a change in location or duties? Are you feeling stuck in your career? Are you second guessing the career you have chosen? Everyone feels this way on a fairly regular basis in their world of work. A suggestion I offer to you is to take the time to find a source for some great personality assessments or apptitude assessments. These are valuable tools because they can offer suggestions or confirm what you may already know. These assessments can tell you about your work style, the types of challenges you function best or worst in and depending upon the assessment, the type of management style that works best for you.

How can I find one of these assessments? There are many free online resources available as well as community job finding clubs in your local area. There are employment counsellors or facilitators trained in the delivery of these for a minimal cost or no cost at all. If you are serious about change but unsure what that looks like or you are suddenly in the middle of change through no planning of your own, this can be a very valuable use of your time. Start taking some control of your career now, make sure you are on the path you are meant to be on!

It is important to feel good about what you do and where you do it. North American workers spend more time in their work environments than they do at home with their families. Think about that for a moment. If you spend eight hours per day, five days per week at work that equals 40 hours. At home during your waking moments you average 20 hours on the weekend and about 20 waking hours during the week with your loved ones. Your most productive and conscious time is spent with your coworkers earning a living. If you are a manager or senior manager, this figure probably looks worse. This is just a rough estimate here but it is no wonder we have a health crisis on our hands. This is why it is so important to make sure that what you do makes you happy and when you come home, your day is something you can feel good about.
Michele Matheson, Vice-President Recruiting

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    Ubique Mechanical Design Inc. is an established and trusted consultancy firm in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia. 

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