SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [72]
Schemes that you may want to use for suppressing parts need to have one of the following:
Configurations that isolate functional areas of an assembly
Configurations that remove the fasteners or purchased components
Configurations that remove complex parts
Configurations that only leave the parts used in in-context relations
Configurations that suppress patterns and assembly features
Assembly configurations that use simplified part configurations
Configurations that show the assembly in different positions
Variations of the assembly using different part configurations
If you suppress the “ground” part or any part that connects groups of parts, keep in mind that this can cause other parts to float in space unattached. Obviously, this is not a good situation, and you should avoid it if possible. One way to avoid it is to use an assembly layout sketch and mate the parts to the sketch instead of to the ground part.
Aside from components, other items can also be suppressed to improve performance, such as assembly features and component patterns. Do you really need to see all those parts patterned around the assembly to work on it in a simplified representation? You may be able to suppress the parts. If you feel you cannot suppress parts, then consider at least using display states to hide parts that are needed to complete the parametrics but do not need to display.
Performance
The biggest hindrance to assembly speed is the circular reference. You can make circular references in a couple of different ways, but they are usually the result of mixing history-based functions (mates, in-context sketch relations, feature references) with non-history-based functions (parts shown in the assembly FeatureManager). This enables you to create partial or complete loops of references, where A references B, which references A. These are a particular problem with in-context references, which are discussed in more depth in Chapter 10.
Configuring SpeedPaks
A SpeedPak is a configuration that uses only selected faces and bodies to represent an entire subassembly, instead of opening all the parts in the assembly. In fact, a SpeedPak stores the geometry in the assembly file so it doesn't have to open any part files at all.
SpeedPaks are mentioned here because they are a form of configuration, essentially a derived configuration, and because they are configurable. As a result, you can have top-level assembly configurations that call on subassemblies to use their SpeedPaks. That can be extremely helpful with very large assembly performance.
Using part configurations for speed
Simplified part configurations can consist of configurations with cosmetic features such as small fillets and extruded text, or other cosmetic details that are suppressed. Assembly configurations can use different part configurations, which, for example, would enable you to make an assembly configuration called “Simplified,” and in it reference all the Simplified part configurations.
Tip
When opening an assembly through the Open dialog box, the Advanced option also enables you to create a new assembly configuration that uses part configurations of a given name, if available. The default part configuration name entered in the text box seems to suggest how SolidWorks intended for this function to be used. As shown in Figure 8.4, it is “Simplified.” In previous versions, the Advanced button was conspicuously placed on the front of the Open dialog box, but by 2009, it was changed to a selection hidden in the list of configurations, as shown in Figure 8.4.
FIGURE 8.4
The Advanced option for assemblies in the Open dialog box
Other special operations for assembly configurations in the Open dialog box include creating a new configuration that has all the components suppressed. This enables you to see the structure of the assembly without fully resolving all the components. Another option is to open the assembly with a new configuration, where all the components are resolved. Beyond that, the Open dialog box also