SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [106]
Using Inserted Parts to Communicate Parametric Control
Chapter 19, which covers master model techniques, describes the Insert Part feature in more detail, but it is included here to demonstrate another technique for sharing data between parts. Inserting one part into another using the Insert Part feature enables you to transfer the following types of information from one part to another without using an assembly:
• Solid bodies
• Surface bodies
• Axes
• Planes
• Cosmetic threads
• Absorbed sketches
• Unabsorbed sketches
• Custom properties
• Coordinate systems
• Model dimensions
• Hole Wizard data
To insert one part into another, open the part into which you want to insert the other part, and select Insert⇒Part. Then browse for the other part, and select which types of entities you want to bring forward from the parent part to the child part. The Insert Part PropertyManager is shown in Figure 12.5.
FIGURE 12.5
Inserting data from one part into another
The inserted information is linked to the original file, such that if the original changes, the inserted data also changes. This sort of data sharing is very powerful and can be used for sharing many kinds of data and geometry without needing an assembly.
Summary
SolidWorks provides users with many methods for using parametric and associative links between parts within and out of assemblies. Equations and design tables are two of the most powerful ways, and derived sketches are a useful method. You can also use inserted parts to communicate parametric controls between documents.
Chapter 13: Editing, Evaluating, and Troubleshooting Assemblies
In This Chapter
Manipulating existing mates
Making changes to filenames and locations
Evaluating assembly changes
SolidWorks assemblies give users plenty of opportunities to enhance their editing and troubleshooting skills. In fact, without evaluation and troubleshooting skills, it might be impossible to get any real work done. Most design or modeling work is not just a linear task — it is often an iterative process. If you get everything right the first time, you haven't tried very hard.
With this in mind, this chapter goes through the essential tools you need to get real-world work done, and do it in a way that shows you understand what you are doing. Editing, evaluating, and troubleshooting skills are tools that will help you deal with the reality of working with SolidWorks assemblies. These tasks can be dauntingly tedious unless you have a working knowledge of the available tools.
Working with Mates
When you think of editing in assemblies, the main task that comes to mind is editing mates, and probably editing broken mates. While there are several other kinds of editing you can do in assemblies, such as changing subassembly structure, replacing components, and managing files, mates really are the biggest item you face when you are talking about editing assemblies.
Chapters 4 and 5 introduce you to the world of creating mates between parts and other items in assemblies. This chapter is more concerned with manipulating mates that already exist.
In assemblies, you can find mates in two different locations, and display them in two different modes. The first place you find them is in the Mates folder at the bottom of the assembly FeatureManager, as shown in Figure 13.1.
FIGURE 13.1
All of the mates in an assembly are shown in the Mates folder at the bottom of the assembly FeatureManager.
Listing mates in the Mates folder
The Mates folder can contain other folders that also contain mates to help you organize them. The mates can be renamed, reordered, deleted, suppressed, and edited from this list. The mates are listed in the order