Fixing an assembly in space

[hititfaster]

Basically, I started working on an assembly and early on after I'd imported several parts, I had to remove one or two of them, then import others to replace them. Somewhere along the way I have created myself an assembly that isn't anchored in space as normal: i.e. everything is mated as I want it, but if I grab one component and drag it, the whole assembly follows... How can I fix the assembly to prevent this? I like to be able to grab a mated component and try to drag it just to check it's completely constrained as I want it and at the moment I can't!

 

[Scheffers]

"Have you tried turning it off and on again?!"

Seriously... use the help-button in SW, and type in "fix".

 

[hititfaster]

Apologies, I genuinely did not think that would be so easy! Thankyou!

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Using the Fix option is just a quick "fix" or workaround. It can be very useful when importing a dumb part or assy of a vendors product, but if it's an in-house product, a proper mating system should be created.

It sounds like somewhere along the line you deleted the first inserted part which would have been automatically fixed in place.

Choose a part which can be considered the main or base part, select its origin and the assembly's global origin, and use the Align Axis option in the Mate Manager. Then mate all other parts to that part, or to other logically associated parts.

 

[gwubs]

What CBL said. In addition, I have gotten away from fixing even the first component in an assembly. Reason is that I've had a few first parts apparently "snap" into place on the origin and major planes, only to discover that this was not the case. Solving mate issues when your first (fixed) part is something like .00000136" off a primary plane is a real pain. I also find that mating all parts intelligently promotes good practices in general.

 

[hititfaster]

It sounds like somewhere along the line you deleted the first inserted part which would have been automatically fixed in place.

Bing. That's exactly what I did. Very useful tips BTW, note taken!

 

[shunter75]

Hi,

I am a new user of Solidworks, I generally use other programs like solid edge and inventor. I was sent a assmbly model of several parts but the whole assembly is upside down (rotated 180deg) I do not want to have to rebuild the assembly, I just want to rotate it, so that when I create the drawings it will be correct. Does anyone know how to do this??

Thanks,
Scott