Hi, When I use solidworks to des

[solid2003]

Hi,

When I use solidworks to design electro-mechanical systems, I always borrow some components from other assemblies. Couple weeks ago, I got problem. While I open an assemblying file, other assemblying files from which I borrow some components will be loaded. It is so boring. please tell me how can I fix this problem.

Thanks

 

[macPT]

I think the best way of sharing components between assemblies, without a PDM, is change the file properties of the shared components to "read only". This way everyone is free to work with the assemblies and the access is not blocked.

Regards

 

[SBaugh]

As long as the parts are not in-contexted there shouldn't be a problem using the asame partss in other assemblies.

And what do you mean by "It is so boring." Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.3dmca.com

faq731-376
When in doubt, always check the help

 

[solid2003]

Thanks "macPT" and Scott.

I thought the parts are in-contexted, so even I changed the file property to "Read-only", copy the part to another folder, while I share one part from other assembly, solidworks will load the whole assembly file where the shared file belongs to. Any other way let me cut off the relation between the shared parts and their original assemblies.

regards,

Charlie

 

[StarrRider]

Solid2003

I have made many assemblies with shared parts that are not read only. I’ve read your question several times and I don’t understand what your problem is. You said that you are borrowing parts from existing assemblies and that causes the existing assembly to be loaded. Are you inserting an existing assembly into your new assembly and then suppressing unwanted items? Or is your problem that SW is locking the PART files so that they cannot be edited?

The first is the only way that I know of that would cause both assemblies to be loaded. What I normally do when I need most of the parts in an existing assembly is to:
1. Open the existing assembly
2. Do a SaveAs to a nice name like ‘Delete Me’
3. Delete all the unnecessary parts
4. Insert that file into my new assembly
5. Shove all the parts out of the ‘Delete Me’ assembly into the new assembly
6. Remove the 'Delete Me' assembly from the new assembly
7. Eventually - Delete the ‘Delete Me’ assembly
This allows me to keep most of the constraints as well. Hint, make sure nothing if fixed or constrained to the assemblies plains.

Lee

 

[solid2003]

Hi StarrRider,

Thanks for your advice.

Let me explain the problem. When I do the design on a new asseybly file( named "B&quot, sometimes I insert existed parts which belong to another assembly file(named "A&quot. Next time when I load "B", somehow "A" is also loaded into solidworks. This kind of situation sometimes happened, sometimes not. Maybe I changed solidworks Option then cause this problem.

By the way, I use Solidworks 2001+

Chalrie

 

[StarrRider]

Solid2003

I’m using 2001+ as well.

The only thing that I can think of that might cause this would be if somebody used Top-Down Design on your assembly A. I hope you know what I’m talking about here. This is not something that I am good at. Normally, I try to avoid all top-down linkages.

Some people like using this method. They create the assembly first and the parts inside of it. It can mean that a dimension on Part C will always be slightly bigger than a dimension on Part D. It really doesn’t matter what the linkage is, except that for SW to figure out how big Part C is it has to open the assembly so it can find Part D.

I am probably not saying this very well. Open your help file and use the index for Assemblies, bottom-up design – Top-Down design is given on the same page.

I don’t remember whether it is in the assembly or the part but it is fairly obvious when this is the case. At the bottom of the browser there is an External Mating reference – or is it Assembly Mating reference – I don’t know but it stands out.

Lee

 

[manxJim]

:Solid2003
Try this
Go to tools, options, External references
Check to see what ‘Load Referenced Documents’ is set to I can’t remember what the options are for 2001plus are but in 2003 you have 4 options All, None, Prompt and changed only

 

[StarrRider]

Solid2003

In 2001+ the Load Referenced Documents choices are: Prompt – Always – Never
I have it set to PROMPT on my system.

Lee

 

[BBJT]

No offense but your rolling Emoticons are really annoying. At leat for myself it makes it really hard to read the post. BBJT CSWP

 

[StarrRider]

JNR

Good point, didn’t consider it. I do all my writing in a Word document and then cut and paste the result into the reply box.

So , is this better.

Lee

 

[solid2003]

Hi all,

Thanks a lot.

Per your suggestion, finally I changed 'Load Referenced Documents’ from ALWAYS to PROMPT, so I can make decision whether I load the reference parts or not.

By the way, I always use Top-down design. One advantage is if the dimensions of key part are changed, all other contexted parts will be changed automaticly. But sometimes that is a disaster, it may mess up other relate assemblies.

do your guys like to open a new topic to discuss about Top-down or Bottom-top design in solidworks? Or you already talked about that a lot, then give me some clue to get the reference.

Thanks again

Charlie

 

[BBJT]

StarrRider,
Much better, thanks. What does JNR stand for?

Solid2003,

Maybe take a look at thread559-32174 BBJT CSWP

 

[StarrRider]

BBJT

The JNR was an OOPS. He is the author of another post that I replied too.
I use a Word document as a template to write in. It contains most of the Emoticons and TGML stuff that I use and provides me with a spelling checker. Most of the time I use the same message over and over again but that means I have to change the name of the person I’m talking too and this time I blew it. Sorry.

Lee

 

[BBJT]

No problem. That is one thing that this forum could use, a spellll chacker. BBJT CSWP

 

[testy]

There is a shareware program that works within Internet explorer available a

http://www.iespell.com

 

[SBaugh]

I write my post in MS Word then I paste it in here. Just easier than having them put a spell checker in here.

Regards, Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.3dmca.com

faq731-376
When in doubt, always check the help