MULTIPLE BODIES IN PART

[thecadman3]

Hi,

I am modeling some off the shelf items that consists of seperate parts to make an assembly.

I can model all items and bring together in an assembly fine, but I would like to know if I can model all the components in 1 part? In Catia you can create multiple bodies in a part (not assy) and assign different attributes to each body. This would keep my filing sytem a lot cleaner!

Hope that was clear!

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

This has been available for several versions.

http://help.solidworks.com/2010/Eng....html?id=1ffb374aa0ad4c2b99adbbdbf1fc2deb#Pg0

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

See also

http://help.solidworks.com/2010/Eng...semblies/c_vc_virtual_components_overview.htm

 

[SnowCrash]

You can make parts with multiple bodies. When you create a feature, unselect []merge feature.
You can also cut a body up afterwards.
You can take an assembly and save it as a part, but it comes out all surfaces, I think.
You can join parts in an assembly into a single part, too.

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2010 SP 2.1
HP Pavillion Elite HPE

 

[thecadman3]

Thanks! should have spotted this but I am learning.

 

[Eltron]

You can also save the bodies as parts after which is handy.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[thecadman3]

Using multibody I notice you can apply mates. I looked at the help but it only talks about applying mates whan inserting new bodies. May sound a daft question as I cant see how it could do this, but can you apply mates to move parts after inserted? I have a hinge witin my part!

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

A multibody part does not allow dynamic movement of bodies.
i.e. The hinge will not be operable.

 

[thecadman3]

thanks for confirming that!

 

[SteveMartin]

Just to clarify what SnowCrash wrote:

"You can take an assembly and save it as a part, but it comes out all surfaces, I think. "

Actually, when saving an assembly to part you have options to save all components (solid bodies), all exterior components (solid bodies again), or all exterior faces (surface bodies).

 

[thecadman3]

I'm noticing that its quite powerfull...very usefull for creating bought in items for your models!

 

[EEnd]

You might want to investigate assemblies with virtual components as an alternative to multi body parts.

Eric

 

[tph216]

I use these all the time for bought out parts. You can in most cases download .stp files from the manufacturer, open them as an assembly in SW, and then save it out as a part with the component reference code as the part number.

Then when you do a bill of materials on a drawing, the part number relates directly to the manufacturers specification, and there is no messing about with sub assembly items of something you're not really responsible for.