Is the ʼBill of Materialsʼ (BOM) created automatically in SolidWorks?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in SolidWorks, a bill of materials can be created automatically from an assembly by inserting a Bill of Materials table in a drawing. This is the most common professional method because it pulls linked component data directly from the model. Limitation: the bom is only as accurate as the assembly structure and custom properties.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: SolidWorks BOMs often fail in real projects when part custom properties like Part Number, Description, or Material are incomplete or inconsistent. A second common issue is using the wrong BOM type, which can flatten or group components in ways that do not match manufacturing requirements.

How-to

  • Command: Bill of Materials

  • Shortcut: No default keyboard shortcut

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Open an assembly drawing, then go to Insert > Tables > Bill of Materials or use the Annotations tab on the CommandManager.
    2. Select the drawing view linked to the assembly, then choose a BOM type such as Top-level only, Parts only, or Indented.
    3. Enable a real option like Follow assembly order if needed, then click OK to place the BOM table.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: BOM Type (Top-level only, Parts only, Indented)

  • Expert Setting: This option controls how SolidWorks lists components. Top-level only is best for higher-level assembly reporting, Parts only is common for procurement-style lists, and Indented is preferred when subassemblies must remain visible in the structure.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): The BOM is driven by the assembly structure, so suppressed, excluded, or envelope components may not appear as expected.
  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): If the BOM table is placed on a hidden or non-printing drawing layer, users may think it was not created.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The BOM does not invent metadata; if custom properties are blank or configurations are mismanaged, the table will populate with missing or incorrect values.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Open the assembly components and complete the needed file properties under File > Properties, then rebuild the drawing and update the Bill of Materials table.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use automatic BOMs for any production assembly drawing, but standardize custom properties and configuration naming first; otherwise, the automation saves time up front and creates downstream purchasing errors.

FAQ

Can solidworks bom update automatically after model changes?
Yes, the BOM updates with assembly and property changes when the drawing rebuilds.

Can I create a BOM directly in an assembly file?
No, the standard BOM is most commonly inserted in a drawing based on an assembly view.

Can I customize BOM columns in SolidWorks?
Yes, you can add, remove, and map columns to custom properties.

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