Acad 2002 solid model orientation problem. 1

[sp1ke727]

I'm trying to import a solid model from one file to another. The other file contians the assembly that uses the solid model part.

This part comes in at a diferent orientation than the base assembly. I'm not sure how to correct it, other than rotate it in each plane view. Not sure this would be accurate.

Any ideas? I think I'm doing something wrong.

 

[rollupswx]

Rotating is perfectly accurate if you do it correctly.
You could also use the align command or 3dalign (it might be align3d, I forget).
Post back if you have trouble.

 

[cfee]

Sp1ke727- Can be FRUSTRATING ! I know ! Ok, here's how I handled it. This may work for you, or it may not, but here's my run at this situation-

1. Have whoever did the ASSEMBLY send you a fully populated copy of the Assembly model AND a copy of their assembly where they've erased ALL components in it. You'll want BOTH. This gets you ALL of their settings, Layers, Linetypes and embedded Text Styles and Dimension Styles in a clean file you can begin your work with. In the clean file, have them purge ONLY hidden and nested blocks. Have them set the Assembly model to WCS, but preserving any other UCS's they've created or named. You also don't need the sheets tabs tho, unless you want their formats and pre-set SOLDRAW viewports. The other "dumb" viewports are probably useless, but you make THAT call.

2. In their still populated Assembly model, have them set the UCS to WORLD. W-Block out ONLY the component part you're interested in. Have them use WORLD 0,0,0 as their ORIGIN. ( BTW- whenever using copy / paste always use the origin point option and use world 0,0,0 in and out) Have them PURGE the resulting COMPONENT Block of EVERYTHING that'll purge. Leave ONLY ONE well-named layer for THIS component. Now you don't have to "manage" this issue in the assembly.

3. Repeat #2 for EVERY component in the Assembly. NAME the parts APPROPRIATELY. Use the same name for the LAYER inside the part model. This is CRUCIAL as you've now created a CLEAN and COMPLETE components library ready for reassembly.

4. Open any original component and make all edits as you see fit. (You can also edit the inserted component inside the Assembly drawing by either exploding and editing or dynamic-block editing, depending on anyone's version of AutoCAD) I like editing INSIDE the assembly, with ONLY this part and the ones IMMEDIATELY adjacent turned on and ALL OTHERS frozen. See? You're starting to get the idea... ! DO NOT MOVE or ROTATE the component in ANY WAY. Instead use ONLY Zooms and Zoom-Rotates to change views of your part as you work. DELETE ALL Sheet Tabs from the COMPONENT MODEL except the ONE sheet tab you think you'll want to make a component 3-View DRAWING of later. HOWEVER there are better ways to do this connecting your future component edits to the Assembly Model, Assembly Drawings and Components 3-View drawings, which I can discuss later, if interested. Me- I'd get rid of the Sheet Tabs in the component block model. After all edits are complete set to WCS. Save.

5. Go into the COPY you made of the EMPTY OVERALL MODEL drawing file (not the original, as you want a spare clean copy of that for future use as the assembly develops...). Set yourself to WCS and insert the Component block with 0,0,0 as your insertion point. Repeat for ALL components of the assembly. IF the position of a particular component has to change in order to attach it correctly to the other component that's also been edited, move it into the correct position and re-WBlock it OVER the previous version, and re-insert according to the methods above. What you are doing here is preserving component integrity and positional info, which was your initial goal.

6. Done. Repeat.

Ok, its never as simple as "5-Easy Steps" but ALL of this is available in ACAD-2002, and works VERY VERY well, including Assembly management, Dimensioning and Semi-Automated BI-DIRECTIONAL connection to shop drawings extracted from the Assembly and its Components.

Again, more on that topic later, if interested.

Ok, good luck, and post back here with results !

C.F.