We use the NX materials tool, with a folder of materials, each material having its own .xml file. Earlier this spring, our keep of the materials library, reorganized them, adjusting the names, etc., thus you would get prompted to update materials over and over, in some cases. Complaints from users were numerous, so I turned off the customer default to "Update Material Properties from Library on Part Load", with instructions to check, and update your materials.
Now we have found a case, where material A is being supersceded by material B. Currently we have both in the library, but wish to remove A, so it is no longer assigned, keeping only B as the option.
Is there a good way to do this, with minimal disruption? I can remove the old material A from the directory, which will remove it from the list, but this won't change the now "local" material of any part that had this material assigned, correct?
Is there a non-intrusive way to update any part with material A, to material B? currently the machine shop would notice, and hopefully relay the information to the design department.
Has anyone done a best practices type paper, or lecture on using this type of material library? past PLM World maybe?
Thanks,
Dave