In this article we will go over how to create a Spec Library which can be used across many part numbers.
Note: The purpose of a Spec Library is to serve as a reference document, such as a standard, engineering specification, or procedure, which can be used across multiple part numbers. It is designed to be imported into the part numbers that require it, rather than creating the specifications from scratch in each plan.
Step 1:
To begin, navigate to the Part Master tile found within the Master Data Tab.
Step 2:
After entering the Part Master Tile, click the New Part button. In the slide-out form, complete the required details and select YES for the IS Spec Library Option.
You may also choose to create a Tabulated Spec Library by choosing YES for the IS Tabulated option.
Step 3:
After entering the Part Master information related to the Spec Library, navigate to the Plans tile and click the New Plan button. Here, you can choose from several methods to create your Spec Library. The image below demonstrates a Spec Library being created from a PDF drawing.
Note: Spec Libraries will be identified in the Part Number dropdown by green text labeled "Spec Library."
Step 3:
After creating the plan, it's time to develop the Spec Library, following the same process as for a Manufacturing Plan.
Step 4:
Besides creating the Spec Library, you can also view where it's used across your part numbers. This is beneficial for change management in case of a revision to the library. By identifying all the parts that rely on the Spec Library, you can easily determine the potential impact of a change and take appropriate measures to minimize any negative effects.
To do so click on the Usage Tab. If the associated plan is not up to date with the latest version of the Spec Library, the plan will show it is NOT current by not having a green check. To help ease the burden of Up-version plans, we’ve introduced a new UPVERSION PLANS button located in the Usage Tab of each Spec Library. By clicking this button, all Plans that are not current on the Usage Tab will automatically receive the latest version of the Spec Library imported into the associated Plans.
If you need to import a new Spec Library or update an outdated plan, you can do so by clicking on the plan number in the Usage tab and importing the latest version of the Spec Library. To import the updated library, access the left sidebar and click on the Library Import button. This will ensure that your plan is using the most current version of the library, thereby reducing the risk of errors or discrepancies.
Step 5:
After importing your Spec Library, you gain the ability to associate the features from the Spec Library with features in the top-level plan. To initiate this linking process, begin by utilizing the group edit tool. This tool allows you to select the specific features that were brought in from the Spec Library.
Subsequently, proceed by clicking the "Renumber" button on the left side bar. Once clicked, you'll be prompted to input the balloon number from the top-level plan that you wish to associate with the chosen features. After entering the desired balloon number, simply click the "GO" button to finalize the linking process. In the illustrated instance below, we've selected balloon number 6 as the top-level reference that points to the Spec Library on the print.
Upon successfully executing this procedure, the balloon numbers within the Spec Library will have been renumbered to align with the designated top-level balloon number. In the provided example, where the top-level balloon number was 6, the Spec Library features originally numbered 36, 37, and 38 have now been renumbered as 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3, respectively.