Automate Multi-Configuration Drawing Creation in SOLIDWORKS PDM
Key Takeaway: Automating drawing creation for multi-configuration models in SOLIDWORKS PDM can reduce manual effort by over 80%, eliminate version mismatches, and accelerate design release cycles.
Modern manufacturing demands seamless integration between 3D models and their associated 2D drawings. SOLIDWORKS PDM offers a powerful task plugin framework that can be harnessed to automate the generation of drawings for every configuration in a model. This article walks through the configuration of such a task, from plugin installation to workflow integration, ensuring your team spends less time on repetitive tasks and more on innovation.
Why Automate Drawing Creation in PDM?
In a typical design environment, a single SOLIDWORKS part or assembly can have dozens of configurations representing different sizes, materials, or options. Manually opening each configuration, updating the drawing, checking annotations, and saving to the vault is not only tedious but also error-prone. Common issues include:
- Mismatched configuration references between model and drawing
- Outdated drawing views after model changes
- Inconsistent title block properties
- Version control chaos when multiple users handle the same files
An automated task eliminates these risks by enforcing standardized processes. It can be triggered by a workflow transition (e.g., “Submitted for Review”) or manually by a user, running silently on a dedicated host machine.
Step 1: Adding the Convert Task Plugin
The drawing conversion functionality is provided by a plugin file (Convert_gb.cex) located in the Default Data folder of your PDM installation directory. To add it:
- Open the PDM Administration tool and connect to your vault.
- Navigate to the Plugins node under the vault.
- Drag and drop the
Convert_gb.cexfile into the plugins list.
This plugin enables the task to launch SOLIDWORKS in the background and perform file conversions based on predefined scripts.
Step 2: Creating the Drawing Conversion Task
Once the plugin is registered, you can define a new task that uses it. Right-click on Tasks in the administration tree and select New Task. Configure the following:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Task Name | A descriptive name, e.g., “Generate All Config Drawings” |
| Plugin | Select the Convert plugin added earlier |
| Execution Host | Choose a machine with SOLIDWORKS installed and PDM client configured |
| Menu Command | Optionally add a right-click shortcut for manual execution in the vault view |
| Conversion Script | Select the script that handles multi-configuration drawing generation (e.g., “Convert with Configurations”) |
After selecting the script, close and reopen the task properties to ensure all options are loaded. Then fine-tune the conversion settings:
- Output Format: Choose PDF, DWG, DXF, or native SOLIDWORKS drawing format based on your downstream requirements.
- Output Path: Define where the generated files will be stored in the vault (e.g., same folder as the model, or a dedicated “Drawings” subfolder).
- File Naming: Use variables like
%filename%_%configuration%to create unique names for each configuration drawing. - Permissions: Assign which users or groups can launch this task manually.
- Notifications: Configure email alerts for task success or failure to keep stakeholders informed.
Step 3: Integrating the Task into a Workflow
To fully automate the process, add the task as an action in a workflow transition. For example, when a designer submits a model for review, the task can automatically generate all missing or outdated drawings. In the workflow editor:
- Open the transition properties (e.g., “Submit”).
- Go to the Actions tab and add a new action.
- Select “Execute Task” and choose your drawing conversion task.
- Set the file type filter to
.sldprt;.sldasmso it only triggers for models.
Now, whenever a file passes through that transition, the task will run automatically. You can also allow users to manually invoke it by right-clicking a file in the vault and selecting the task from the context menu.
Real-World Benefits and Performance
Companies implementing this automation report dramatic improvements. A typical model with 20 configurations might take a designer 2–3 hours to process manually. The automated task completes the same work in under 10 minutes, with zero configuration errors. Additionally, because the task runs on a separate host, the designer’s workstation remains free for other work.
Pro Tip: Combine this task with a custom property mapping script to automatically populate drawing title blocks with configuration-specific data from the model, ensuring full traceability.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Task fails with “Could not start SOLIDWORKS” | SOLIDWORKS license not available or background mode not enabled | Ensure the task host has a valid license and SOLIDWORKS is set to run in background mode (no splash screen) |
| Drawings missing some configurations | Script does not iterate all configurations | Verify the script logic; it should loop through GetConfigurationNames |
| Output files not checked into vault | Incorrect output path or permissions | Check that the task user has write access to the target folder and the path is relative to the vault root |
Extending the Automation
The same task framework can be adapted for other conversions, such as generating neutral formats (STEP, IGES) for each configuration, or creating eDrawings for lightweight sharing. By combining multiple tasks in a workflow, you can build a complete digital thread from design to manufacturing.
In conclusion, configuring an automated drawing task in SOLIDWORKS PDM is a high-impact, low-effort improvement that pays for itself quickly. It standardizes output, reduces human error, and lets your engineering team focus on what they do best—designing great products.
