Automating Windchill content processing: SF universalWORKER – flexible, scalable and reliable

Windchill Content Processing: Why external processes are crucial

Greater efficiency in the Windchill environment – without changing systems

SF universalWORKER automatically processes content information outside of Windchill – and seamlessly feeds the results back into the system. Configurable, modular, ready for production.

Modern product development generates large volumes of technical data every day – drawings, bills of materials, CAD documents and approval documents. PTC Windchill manages this data reliably. However, many processing tasks – such as conversion to alternative formats, graphical drawing comparison or transfer to downstream systems – require high-performance external processing.

This is exactly where SF universalWORKER comes in: as a modular add-on application that automatically retrieves Windchill objects, processes them outside the PLM environment and returns the results in a structured format. It is event-driven, configurable and designed to meet the requirements of manufacturing companies.

Automation

Processes are triggered by events – for example, when a drawing is approved – without the need for manual intervention.

Scalability

Several universalWORKER engines run in parallel and distribute the load across dedicated servers outside Windchill.

Integration

Processed content is fed back directly to Windchill objects as representations or attachments.

Flexibility

The modular design allows for the customisation of processing rules and engine combinations.

Automated Windchill content processing with universalWORKER

Technical Design and Operation

SF universalWORKER consists of four modules: Plugin, Server, Engine and Upload. The Plugin is registered on the Windchill Server and records configured events – for example, the release of a drawing. When the event occurs, it passes a job to the universalWORKER Server, which processes jobs on a first-in, first-out basis and distributes them to one or more engines.

The engine consists of two components: data management and CAD-specific processing. The computationally intensive component runs on a dedicated server outside the Windchill environment. Upon upload, results are added to Windchill objects as visualisations or attachments.

An overview of available engines

There are currently three specialised engines available for different processing tasks:

With customisable configuration options:

The modular design allows for the combination of multiple engines and the customisation of all processing rules. This means that universalWORKER can be introduced in stages and expanded as required.

Integration into existing Windchill environments

SF universalWORKER is based on the Windchill Java API and therefore integrates deeply into the existing PLM infrastructure. The server and queue run as Java processes with low system requirements. The architecture ensures that Windchill performance is not affected by resource-intensive processing tasks.

Supported versions and operational readiness

SF universalWORKER is available for the latest versions of Windchill supported by PTC. Compatibility is checked and ensured with every new version of Windchill.

Windchill Content Processing with universalWORKER

Analysis

We assess your Windchill environment and identify opportunities for automation.

Configuration

SF configures universalWORKER to fit your processes, engines and events perfectly.

Operation

We support the roll-out, testing and ongoing operations right through to stable production deployment.

Enquiry & advice

Describe your use case – our experts will get back to you shortly and show you how SF universalWORKER can optimise your content processing.

General enquiries about SF universalWORKER

What is SF universalWORKER and what is it used for?

SF universalWORKER is a modular add-on for PTC Windchill that enables automated content processing outside the PLM environment. It generates alternative display formats, compares drawings and feeds the results back into Windchill in a structured format.

How is Windchill content processing triggered?

Processing can start automatically in response to specific events – for example, when a drawing is released – or be initiated manually via the Windchill user interface. The events that trigger a job can be freely configured.

Why is the processing taking place outside of Windchill?

Resource-intensive processes such as drawing comparisons or format conversions would place a strain on the Windchill environment if they were run directly within the system. By offloading them to dedicated servers, PLM performance remains stable and the process is freely scalable.

Which universalWORKER engines are available?

There are currently three engines available: Alternate Representations, Drawing Comparison Graphical and Drawing Comparison Professional. The modular design allows several engines to be combined depending on requirements.

Which versions of Windchill does universalWORKER support?

SF universalWORKER supports the latest versions of Windchill supported by PTC. Compatibility is checked and ensured with every new version.

How time-consuming is it to install the universalWORKER?

The server, engine and upload are set up via an automated installation routine. The plugin is registered on the Windchill server using Ant installation scripts – a standardised process overseen by SF experts.

Can processing results be used directly in Windchill?

Yes – the upload component automatically transfers results as visualisations or attachments to Windchill objects such as WT-Parts or EPM documents. They are therefore immediately available in the PLM system for further use.

Which sectors is universalWORKER suitable for?

SF universalWORKER is designed to meet the needs of manufacturing companies – from medium-sized engineering firms to large corporations in the automotive, electronics and process industries that use PTC Windchill as their PLM system.