This is a slide deck for OpenBOM webinar #24 about BOMs in Solidworks. It is first in the set of 4 webinars about Solidworks BOMs and OpenBOM. Check help.openbom.com for webinar recording.

1. In OpenBOM
Steve Hess
Director of User Experience, OpenBOM
stevehess@openbom.com
July 15, 2020
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)
Mastering SolidWorks BOMs

2. Webinar basics
You are all muted
Please type questions in the chat window or send to support@openbom.com
We will publish a recording following the event
I will share this deck with the playback.
This is meant to be a casual event….. And maximise use of time
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

3. About Mastering Solidworks BOMs in OpenBOM
Breaking into several “Episodes” as follows:
Webinar #24: New BOMs, Settings, Properties, Update OpenBOM, Save Item
Webinar #25: Part Classifications, Templates, Bi-Directional properties
Webinar #26: SolidWorks Configurations, Purchased Assemblies
Webinar #27: SWX BOM Maintenance
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

4. Webinar #24 (today) in particular
Creating new BOMs - literally 3 minutes to a create first real functional BOM
Sending SolidWorks properties to OpenBOM (Part Number, etc)
Updating CAD changes to OpenBOM
Tour the OpenBOM “Settings”
Part Classifications by Catalog
Do’s and Don’ts
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

5. Definitions:
Integration/Addin/Plugin: An app which runs inside of a CAD platform like Solidworks.
OpenBOM is a SolidWorks “App”
Multi Level BOM: A BIll of Materials organized into levels to show structure. Most often
product structure.
Single Level BOM: By definition, a Bill of Materials with no structure or levels
Catalog: A list of Items used by your company to make your products. Often called an
Inventory or an Item Master, this is a list of parts and sub-assemblies and associated
information needed to put your final product together.
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

6. OpenBOM for SolidWorks Basics
● OpenBOM requires the installation of an addin to create BOMs from Solidworks
○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz8YQy9trtU
● BOMs are created from SWX Assemblies only
● Individual SWX Parts may be saved to OpenBOM using Save Item Command
● OpenBOM for Solidworks integration requires a license
○ Free Trial or Professional User or above. www.openbom.com
○ Or, You may be a member of your Team or Company
● SolidWorks 2016 or later although some functionality works with earlier swx versions
● Solidworks PDM and Windows File Explorer addins are supported but not covered here
● Upload from Folders, Excel, other CAD also supported in other webinars
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

7. Lessons
Lesson #1 - Create a BOM from Solidworks assembly really quick
Lesson #2 - What Just Happened, where does Part Number come from?
Lesson #3 - Dealing with Solidworks properties (add Finish)
Lesson #4 - OpenBOM Settings Dialog, Solidworks Settings to watch out for
Lesson #5 - Save Item to a new classification or Catalog
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

8. Live session….1. Lesson #1 Create a New BOM of Router
○ Open -W24 Router
○ Settings
■ Sign in
■ Save
○ Click BOM
○ Review
○ Router Base missing Description so add it
○ Save Item, close Router Base
○ Refresh BOM, see Description is there
2. What Happened
○ Structure created - Switch to Multi Level
○ Properties with values were brought to the BOM
○ Classifications/Catalogs automatically set & Properties saved there (Solidworks Items)
○ PC-Board and Ariel are purchased assemblies because config set to “Hide lower”
○ Part Number was set (more later)
■ Basically, if no other setting we user File Name as Part Number
■ Or, Configuration setting if it exists
■ Or, Part Number custom property if it exists
■ Or, Configuration Specific Part Number if it exists
Open 90310-08011.sldprt
Filename is 90310-08011.sldprt
Configuration setting is “Use SW-047191”
Custom property “Part Number = 90310-08011-Z”
Configuration Specific Custom property “Part Number = 90310-08011-ZZ”
→ PART NUMBER IS SET TO 90310-08011-ZZ
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

9. Lesson #3 More About Properties
● All non-Empty Properties will be sent to OpenBOM
● Open the screw and add Finish = Zinc
● Save
● Save Item to Solidworks Items
● Refresh BOM
Lesson #4 OpenBOM Settings
● Tour the OpenBOM dialog
● Solidworks Settings
○ Suppressed and Lightweight parts/assy are excluded from OpenBOM
○ Envelope and Exclude from BOM
○ Configuration Properties (Open PCB Assembly)
○ Make some test assemblies and experiment with this behavior
Lesson #5 Updating a specific Item to specific Catalog with Save Item
● Open the 90310-08011 Screw
● Add a Material property
● Save Item to Fastener Classification/Catalog
● Delete it from Solidworks Items
● Goto the BOM
● See screw is no longer defined
● Assign Fastener Catalog
● All is good
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

10. Do’s and Don’ts
● Do always use unique part numbers. If you have Door.sldasm containing Door.sldprt OpenBOM
will give each PN=”Door”. So use one of the methods described in prior slide to set a unique part
number. Don’t rely on File Name. Consider non-intelligent part numbers.
● Do be mindful of your “Default Catalog” when Creating BOM
● Do read the messages, they say what is going to happen
● Do Use “BOM” and “Save Item” commands
● Don’t use the “Catalog” command. It is being deprecated.
● Don’t create multiple configurations with the same Part Numbers (more in coming webinar on that).
You will get wrong quantity for that PN.
● --> Use Configuration Specific Part Number instead

11. References
Solidworks first 3 minutes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iz8YQy9trtU
More about Multi Level BOMs https://www.openbom.com/blog/how-to-create-multi-level-hierarchical-bom
OpenBOM Webinars https://help.openbom.com/webinars/ (see #21,22)
OpenBOM Basics https://help.openbom.com/get-started/understand-openbom/
OpenBOM Help https://help.openbom.com/ - a great place to start
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)

12. Questions / comments ?
Please send to support@openbom.com or use the Support feature in OpenBOM
© OpenBOM, 2020 (Newman Cloud Inc.)