What is a ʼBill of Materialsʼ (BOM) in SolidWorks?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

A bill of materials (bom) in SolidWorks is a table that automatically lists the components, quantities, and custom properties from an assembly, usually placed in a drawing using the Bill of Materials command. The most common professional method is to insert it from a drawing view of the assembly. Limitation: a BOM is only as accurate as the assembly structure and part properties.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: BOM errors in SolidWorks usually come from bad custom properties, wrong part configurations, or components marked incorrectly for exclusion. A drawing BOM can look correct at first glance while still outputting wrong part numbers, quantities, or descriptions to manufacturing.

How to Create a BOM in SolidWorks

  • 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 annotation tab on the CommandManager.
    2. Select the assembly drawing view that will drive the BOM.
    3. In the Bill of Materials PropertyManager, choose a BOM Type such as Top-level only, Parts only, or Indented, then enable a real option like Follow assembly order if needed, and click OK.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: BOM Type

  • Expert Setting: This controls how SolidWorks reports assembly structure. Top-level only shows only first-level components, Parts only flattens the list for purchasing or fabrication, and Indented preserves subassembly structure, which is often best for complex assemblies and service documentation.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): Components may be inserted in the wrong configuration, causing the BOM to pull incorrect dimensions, descriptions, or quantities from configuration-specific properties.

  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): A BOM placed on a hidden or non-printing drawing layer can appear missing, and a locked table can prevent editing or repositioning in the drawing.

  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Components set to Exclude from Bill of Materials or missing linked custom properties will not report correctly, even though they are visible in the assembly.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Right-click the component in the assembly, open Component Properties, and verify Exclude from Bill of Materials is cleared; then confirm the part’s custom properties are filled correctly.

  • Manager’s Verdict: Use drawing-based BOMs for released assemblies because they are the standard, fastest, and most traceable workflow. Avoid relying on manual table edits when the assembly or metadata still changes frequently.

FAQ

Can a solidworks bom update automatically?
Yes, it updates when the referenced assembly, quantities, or linked properties change.

What is the best BOM type for manufacturing?
Parts only is often best for purchasing, while Indented is better for assembly documentation.

Can I exclude a part from a BOM in SolidWorks?
Yes, use the component’s properties and enable the exclude option for the BOM.

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