Saving Bodies = Split Parts = No Features = No Good

[PhoenixDynamometer]

Hello all,
I think it is great to be able to create a MB part then save them all out to individual files, create assy, etc. However, by creating split parts and split assemblies I end up with no features in the part files. It there a way to save out the bodies to "non-split" or "regular" SW part files with all the features that should be there?

Thanks,
PD

http://www.phoenixdyno.com

Home of the world's most accurate and repeatable dynamometers, dynamometer accessories, and data acquisition & control software.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Not that I know of.

Why do you need the features in the split parts? They can (and should) only be edited in-context of the parent part.

 

[PhoenixDynamometer]

I feel it is faster to design frames, structures, etc. this way but once the design is done I would rather have an assembly of .sldprt files with full features. I would delete the multibody part when all is good.

PD

http://www.phoenixdyno.com

Home of the world's most accurate and repeatable dynamometers, dynamometer accessories, and data acquisition & control software.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Split-off parts wouldn't necessarily have their own set of logical creation features. A split may not be made at the location where a feature was created.

Frames and structures would be more suited to the Weldment function.

 

[Eltron]

One multibody part technique you could use would deal with configurations. Split your part into several bodies. Create as many configurations as you have bodies. Then delete all but one body in each configuration. This will give you your full feature manager, but you will only have one part (with multiple configs).

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[dedevo]

I had to design some chutes that were going to be made by welding a bunch of plates together.
Creating each plate individually, then tying them all together seemed to laborious.

I had the same thing with some hoppers I needed. Because I wanted to control the volume, I started with a block and then made Sheet Metal parts off the solid outline. That way I could measure the volume until I had dimensions that were appropriate. Then saved each one to it's own file.

I got to thinking on the same lines as PD: what if I want to change some of these?


You can take the individual bodies that you save, then export them to an intermediate file ".STEP"
Import the file, and let FeatureWorks try to solve.

Ultimately I stuck with the MB part because it let me change the design parametrically, and very easily.

Devon Murray, EIT [Mechanical]
Solidworks 2011 SP 2.0

 

[rollupswx]

It sounds like the problem is 1 extra file bothers you.
Keep all of the project files in a folder.
All 1s and 0s.
Memory is cheap.

If it is really done, then what is a feature based model needed for?