Animation, Sub assemblies and component patterns

[AlWat]

Hi, I've got an assembly of a mould. Essentially a bunch of plates with differently shaped inserts in between them, and a million pins and screws.

To save time when I was making the assembly from the individual parts, I used a lot of component patterns, especially with the inserts and pins and screws.

What I am required to do now is make an animation of the assembly, as it moves in the part. I grouped parts together into sub assemblies to make this easier for me, but then I encountered a problem... I couldn't add any of the component patterns to the sub assemblies, or it would delete them. Also, I cannot animate any of the component patterns.

Is there a way I can group these component patterns into the subassy's without having to break them and redo all the mates? We're talking hundreds of individual parts if I have to do that.

One thing I thought of, but am afraid to try before researching a bit, is breaking up all the component patterns and letting solidworks automatically determine mates based on all the positions of the parts. This method seems like it would work, but I could see all sorts of incorrect mates getting made.

If I can't put the component patterns into sub assy's, if I could at least find a way to animate them (using the animation wizard) then I could manage.

Thanks in advance for any assitance, I know you guys can find some way of helping me.

 

[AlWat]

Sorry, when I said
"What I am required to do now is make an animation of the assembly, as it moves in the part."

I meant "as it moves in the machine"

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Which version of SW are you using?


Making the best use of this Forum. faq559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. faq559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. faq559-520

 

[AlWat]

2005, sp3

 

[J-C]

Component patterns cannot be "moved" to a sub-assy. I just move the parent part and let it delete the pattern, then recreate the pattern at the sub-assy level. Not that much work really.

It also helps to use the hole wizard and patterns at the part level. Then you can used derived patterns in the assembly linked to the parts pattern.

Jason

 

[AlWat]

Hmm, I may have to do this. I wish I started off by making sub assemblies, it would have saved me an assload of time.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Make an exploded view first, then you can use it in the animation. When creating the exploded view you can explode associated parts or sub-assys.


Making the best use of this Forum. faq559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. faq559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. faq559-520

 

[SDO]

AIWat,

I would be interested to know, if this is ok, roughly:
- How many parts in your assembly?
- Size of the main assembly file?
- Size and details (how many sheets, how many views) in your main assembly drawing?
- The hardware you used, did it have detailed threads or cosmetic?

This would help me evalulate the file size of my ASM/DRW
Thanks,
Sorin