Import and Export > Tekla EPM (PowerFab) Integration

A PowerFab nest request can offer orderable sizes: plate sizes PowerFab can buy but does not hold. PrimeCut NE nests on them like any other plate; the autonest uses them in the order set in Tekla EPM Datastore Settings, where they are listed as Orderable sizes - PowerFab raises a requisition.

The same applies to a plate made from an on-order template, one of the plates PowerFab has on order that PowerFab->Get On Order Plate Templates offers as quick-plate templates: PowerFab does not hold it yet, so its nest also goes to a requisition.

Because PowerFab holds no plate for an orderable size or an on-order template, it cannot reserve one when the nest is reported. Instead it adds the plate to a requisition, PowerFab's request to buy material, and PrimeCut NE follows that plate until PowerFab has ordered and received it.

When the plate is scheduled

Scheduling the plate sends its nest to PowerFab as usual. When PowerFab answers that it saved the nest to a requisition, PrimeCut NE:

•records the requisition number on the plate, together with PowerFab's requisition item;

•renames the plate if the plate name formula uses [RequisitionNumber] - see Names of PowerFab plates in Tekla EPM Datastore Settings;

•tells you, for example: PowerFab holds no plate for this nest and has added it to requisition R-1042. Order and receive it in PowerFab; PowerFab > Requisitioned plates follows it until it arrives.

Order and receive the material in PowerFab as you would for any requisition.

The trolley symbol

A plate PowerFab is still to supply carries a trolley over the bottom left corner of its picture: one made from an orderable size or on-order template, which PowerFab orders through a requisition, and a PowerFab plate that is on order. It is shown in the Plate Selector, the quick-plate templates and the Nest Explorer's plate list. Hover over the picture to see which: PowerFab orders this plate through a requisition: it is not in stock yet. or On order in PowerFab: ordered, not received yet. The trolley goes once the plate has been received.

The badge in the Plate Selector

In the Plate Selector a requisitioned plate carries a badge with its requisition number, coloured by how far the purchase has got. Hover over the plate to see the requisition and its stage.

Badge	Meaning
Req R-1042 (orange)	PowerFab has raised the requisition but has not ordered the plate yet.
On order R-1042 (blue)	PowerFab has ordered the plate; it has not arrived.
Received R-1042 (green)	The plate has been received and is ordinary PowerFab stock.

The badge moves on when PrimeCut NE learns the new stage from PowerFab, through PowerFab->Requisitioned plates.

PowerFab > Requisitioned plates

PowerFab->Requisitioned plates... looks up, in PowerFab's inventory, every live plate (in stock, scheduled or frozen) that is still waiting on a requisition, using the nest PrimeCut NE sent for it. It lists each one with its requisition and stage, for example:

Plate 5123 Tekla EPM plate - requisition R-1042: on order, now inventory item 88231 (PO 4471, heat -, job 5791)

Once PowerFab has ordered or received the plate, PrimeCut NE links the plate to PowerFab's new inventory item: it takes the item's id, job and on-order state, and once the plate is received its heat number, heat serial number and purchase order. The plate is renamed from the plate name formula and is an ordinary PowerFab inventory plate from then on.

A plate that is open in another PrimeCut NE session is not changed; the list says so - run the command again later. If PowerFab cannot be asked, the list gives the reason. Plates already received are ordinary PowerFab stock and are not listed; if no plate is waiting on a requisition, the command says so.

Requisitioned plates are kept

A plate made from an orderable size that is left empty is removed by the next nest request. A plate PowerFab has raised a requisition for is never removed this way, and is not offered again as an on-order plate template; the nest request says how many such plates it kept.