SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [18]
FIGURE 2.7
Window arrangements: Cascade, Tile Horizontally, and Tile Vertically
Understanding the Interface for Moving and Mating
Moving and Mating operations are exclusive to assembly documents and so have some unique interface elements. For the easiest type of moving parts that are set up for dynamic assembly motion, there is no interface at all. You just select the part and drag the cursor. This type of moving is not always as precise as you might need, so SolidWorks enables other types of moving with different interfaces.
You can prevent the motion of components while dragging by turning off the option found at Tools⇒Options⇒Assemblies⇒Move components by dragging. This option is turned on by default.
While moving a part with the default (select) cursor, you can choose some options from the RMB menu to help you move the component. Figure 2.8 shows a portion of this RMB menu.
FIGURE 2.8
Selecting other options for moving parts in an assembly
The Move option simply opens the Move Component PropertyManager, where you can access the options and controls shown later in this section.
The Move With Triad option brings up a triad with wings and concentric rings, shown in Figure 2.9. This may seem confusing at first, but its function becomes clearer as you use it.
FIGURE 2.9
Using the triad to move components
The arrows enable you to move parts along that direction only. The rings enable you to rotate the part around that direction only. The flat “wings” between the arrows enable you to move the part in a plane parallel to the flat wing. To use these wings correctly, you must sometimes reposition the view so you can see the wing properly in order to select it.
The small, blue ball at the center of the triad enables you to move the triad to a more convenient location. It does not snap to any geometry. Moving it only gives you a better view or makes it easier to select parts of the triad without selecting something in the background.
Using the Move Component interface
The Move Component tool enables you to move parts in an assembly using various methods. Figure 2.10 shows the interface for this tool.
SolidWorks allows you to move parts in assemblies using the following methods:
• Free Drag
• Along Assembly XYZ
• Along Entity
• By Delta XYZ
• To XYZ Position
All of the following movement options are available for both translation and rotation.
FIGURE 2.10
Available options in the Move Component interface
Free Drag
Using the Free Drag option is the same as just dragging parts with the cursor without using the Move Component tool at all. When you drag a part with open degrees of freedom in the assembly graphics window, you might notice that the Move Component icon in the assembly toolbar momentarily depresses.
Free Drag exists as an option in the Move Component PropertyManager because several options can be used in conjunction with Free Drag that give you a wider range of capabilities, such as collision, clearance, and physical dynamics.
Free Drag enables the part to move according to whatever open degrees of freedom have been allowed by the mates. This concept is dealt with in more detail in later chapters.
Along Assembly XYZ
The Along Assembly XYZ option displays a small triad on the screen, shown in Figure 2.11.
This interface only allows you to move the part along one axis at a time. You can try to free-drag the part, and you will most likely move the part in the direction you want if you bring the view into an orientation such that the direction you want to move is parallel to the screen.
To ensure that you are moving in a particular direction, you can click the cursor near one of the X, Y, or Z legs of the triad.