Have you ever questioned what is Windchill PTC and how it helps organizations in fine-tuning their PLM operations and enhancing team collaboration?

By offering a comprehensive set of tools for managing CAD data, controlling versions, and overseeing manufacturing processes, PTC Windchill assists businesses in improving efficiency and encouraging innovation.

This blog will illuminate how PTC Windchill optimises PLM practices, facilitates seamless data collaboration, and empowers organisations to efficiently deliver high-quality products in a competitive market.

What is PTC Windchill?

PTC Windchill is a web-based platform for Product Lifecycle Management, offering various application solutions.

It is highly configurable and customisable, with modules like PDM link for product data management, MPM link for manufacturing process management, and project link for collaboration with partners, vendors, suppliers, and customers.

PTC Windchill is designed to be used with Creo parametric, allowing users to access their PLM system from within their CAD tool.

It also allows for managing electronic files, such as CAD data, and can be accessed through an internet browser.

Overview of PTC Windchill

PTC Windchill is a software that allows for the storage and management of various electronic files, including Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, PDF files, test data, and images.

It also offers release management, change management, and Bom management, which involves creating engineering and manufacturing bills of materials for a product.

The Software also allows for the creation of purchasing and finance bombs, manufacturing process planning, and supplier management.

Its module allows users to identify and designate their vendors and suppliers, and track their status, such as approval, preference, or non-use.

A tool used in product development to create, manufacture, and deliver products. The transition state is set up for under review, and the set state allows users to set the state of an object under review to any of the different states.

The lifecycle is saved and closed, and the template is checked out for changes. The basic lifecycle template can be used for object initialization rules and to change existing objects from their existing lifecycle template to the new one.

Product lifecycle management in PTC Windchill

Product lifecycle management systems like PTC Windchill can help businesses manage their products and processes, even if they are not as complex as larger companies.

These systems can be used for promotions, releases, and notifications, allowing users to stay updated on changes to objects.

PTC Windchill also offers workgroup managers for managing CAD files from other software, such as SolidWorks,Inventor, or CATIA.

Additionally, tools like Thing Worx for IoT and navigable apps like Navigator can make the process of using PTC Windchill easier. For those who don’t have access to PTC Windchill, these tools can make their lives more efficient.

PTC Windchill has life cycles associated with objects like CAD documents, WT parts, standard documents, and change objects.

For example, a cat assembly has a lifecycle template called one phase development, which includes design prototype release, obsolescence, and under review.

To create a new lifecycle template, an administrator can use the utilities in the Navigator. The lifecycle template administration utility allows users to create new templates for other objects.

The administrator can choose between basic or advanced lifecycle templates.The text describes the process of creating a lifecycle system, starting with initial concepting and progressing to a detailed design phase.

The system is designed to remain simple, with numbers being the primary choice. A prototype is built, and custom lifecycle states can be created, though this process can be challenging. The prototype is used for testing, and a final state is established for production, which can be either obsolescence or under review.

A version series is set up for each state, and the dialog box is expanded to include tabs for transitions, roles, and access control.

The destination state is defined for each action, such as a change notice state, a lock state, and an intermediate state for under review.

The state is also configured for promotion requests and when something becomes obsolete. Emphasis is placed on the importance of having a version series for each state.

How to use PTC Windchill or ways to add objects to your workspace in PTC Windchill

Three ways to add objects to your workspace are described

Create a new workspace:

Create a new workspace by logging in and choosing New.

Type in today’s date and select a context to associate the object with.

Click OK to close the workspace.

Add objects from search results or browsing by using the search field in the upper right-hand corner to find the object.

Right-click on the object and choose Add to Workspace, which automatically grabs all dependent objects by default.

Add objects to your workspace using the Open button.

Go to your workspace, search in libraries, and select the object you want to grab.

Click the Open button to open and retrieve it into Creo Parametric.

Use filters to narrow down the list of objects and click the Enter key to add the object.

Add objects to your workspace:

Enter the exact name of the object in the file name folder to add it to your workspace.

For example, to add a part called “bat left,” enter the part’s name and extension in the file name folder and click the Open button.

To check out objects, use the Browse toolbar, navigate to the PTC Windchill common space, and select the object you want to check out.

Use the icon in the toolbar to select the object for checkout and click OK to confirm the addition.

Ensure the object is added to your workspace and displayed in the appropriate folder.

Check out objects in workspace:

In your workspace, check out objects by observing their status symbol, which can be yellow or grey depending on who checked it out.

Select objects in the list and use the checkout icon in the toolbar to check them out.

All objects have a checkout icon in the toolbar.

Close open items by erasing them from the session.

Make changes to an assembly by turning off the display of datums and reopening the top-level assembly.

Ensure all objects are checked out and their status is visible.

In Creo Parametric, create a datum plane by selecting a reference and hitting the checkmark.

Update status symbols for objects and check out the bender assembly.

Ensure that modifications are uploaded to maintain data consistency.

Add objects to the workspace using search or browse functions, by browsing to the correct folder, or by entering the file name directly.

Check out objects either while adding them to the workspace or dynamically during operations in Creo Parametric.

CAD Data Management in PTC Windchill

PTC Windchill serves as a CAD data management vault, storing different iterations of your CAD models, with access control and version history.

This allows for comparisons and reverting to earlier iterations. Additionally, version control and revision control are available, ensuring that objects are approved and reviewed before release.

This explains how to revise an object from a release date back to an in-work state using the PDM link. This allows users to access previous revisions and track additional information related to CAD models.

The product structure, a hierarchical structure, allows users to access the entire product structure and perform promotions and releases.

This is useful when a product is ready for production or manufacturing after a design review or customer feedback. The text emphasises the importance of maintaining a consistent and accurate CAD system.

At last, I want to finalize, PTC Windchill is a highly effective PLM solution that aids organisations in refining their product development processes, decreasing costs, and increasing efficiency.

The platform’s rich assortment of features and functionalities encourages team collaboration, product configuration management, and compliance with industry regulations.

With real-time visibility into product data and processes, Windchill equips organisations to make astute decisions, eliminate errors, and stimulate innovation.

Hence, PTC Windchill is an indispensable tool for any organisation aiming to optimise their product development and achieve sustainable competitive advantage.