How can I copy a body?

[Agriego]

Good morning,

I have a solid model we got from another company. The model has a ton of imported bodies, and a bunch of them are bad. Fortunately, they are all the same part, it's just used in a number of places. I have one body of that type that's good, and I want to just cut and paste it to replace the bad bodies, but the program won't let me copy the body. How can I replace the bad bodies with the good one?

Al

 

[JMirisola]

Is there a logical pattern to the bodies? If so, delete all the bad ones and pattern the good. If not, you can use the move/copy body command to make copies of the good body and then position it. Actually replacing the bad with the good isn't possible in a multi-body part.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWE
My Blog

 

[Agriego]

Unfortunately, they aren't in a pattern. I did create a parasolid of the good part, and I imported it and repositioned it and it seems to be working ok. When I tried to do a move/copy the original part was moving for some reason. I don't know if I was doing something wrong, but I did have copy checked. there didn't seem to be a way to copy from point to point. you have to give it X, Y & Z dimensions or mate it.

Al

 

[KBeitel]

Agriego,

I have done this multiple times but it is a cumbersome process.

1. Have original file with multi-bodies - ORG-MB1.sldprt
2. Save copy of original file with multi-bodies - ORG-MB2.sldprt
3. Remove all bodies but one specific. Clean up part so there are no errors. - SB1.sldprt
4. Open new assembly and place in original file (ORG-MB2.sldprt) and save. - MB1.sldasm
5. Add all instances of SB1.sldprt aligning with the bodies of original. Delete mates and fix parts in location.
6. Open and remove all instances of specific body in original (ORG-MB2.sldprt).
7. Open assembly MB1.sldasm with revised ORG-MB2.sldprt & clean parts SB1.sldprt and save as part - New-MB1.sldprt

You will then have a new part with the multi-bodies all clean. I have painstakingly done this on some imported models that I have received from vendors to clean up my models. It is a difficult process, but in the end with a clean model it is worth it. Hope this makes sense.

Take care & have fun!

Kevin
"Hell, there are no rules here -- we're trying to accomplish something." - Thomas A. Edison

 

[Agriego]

I have to admit, it's be eye opening going from NX to Solidsworks. Some of the things I had been able to do with no problem take a bit more effort in SW. Oh well.

Al