Format for creating machined parts?

If I have a plastic block with a part number and drawing.
I machine this plastic part and create another part number and drawing.

I have used family tables, but this seems to have some problems with BOM's on the drawing.

Merged parts seem to have problems also...

Anyone else do this?
Make the plastic block a part
Make the machining an assembly file
Assemble the plastic block in the assembly file
create the cuts in assembly mode.

This will show the correct fomat on a BOM.

Any other options?

Whats the problem with the merge option?


We have several hundred of parts machined from different castings. We use the merge function to create the machined part and it works great.


Family tables works well but if it is a complicated part the tables get huge and difficult to handle for sustaining engineering.