SolidWorks subassembly in-context spring not rebuilding (updating)

[Hoogon]

It's my first thread, thus Hello Everybody. I hope you're well.

The problem is as follows.

I drew in-context spring into a shock absorber assembly. It works fine: when I move the piston rod and hit 'rebuild', the spring automatically changes its shape to fit the distance.

When the shock absorber becomes sub-assembly and is placed between frame and swingarm (in top assembly) the spring isn't moving anymore. I've made this sub-assy flexible but spring stays in the same position as in the shock absorber assembly (not updating to fit the current position of shock absorber).

I have attached drawings:
1. Position A

http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=d1d0154f-35c3-45c7-b5f4-53b317d69dd2&file=A.JPG

2. Position B - spring not updated, even though I hit 'rebuild'

http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=b2692651-6894-4e63-b4dc-3b7366f986e1&file=B.JPG

Thanking you in advance,
Hubert

 

[Updraft]

Since you are doing a top-down design the spring is governed by the first assembly, i.e., its length is controlled there. To use that spring anywhere else it won't update with the new assembly, as you have already experienced.

You could make a copy and use that for the other model, but you would have to "move" its defining relationships to the new assembly.

For a lot of reasons, your situation being one of them, people recommend against using a fully detailed spring or screw. The helix feature is resource intensive and usually the fine detail is not needed except for a presentation image. For those cases you can easily make a static detailed spring.

- - -Updraft

 

[Hoogon]

Updraft,

Thanks for your swift reply. Although my model isn't top-down one, I got the general idea.

First I drew shock absorber parts and assemble them. Then stick this assemble to FRAME ASSEMBLY (which comprises: frame, swingarm and shock absorber) and last OP: FRAME ASSY inserted into MAIN ASSY. I drew in-context spring in FRAME ASSY(SWEPT and twist along path), which is driven by the length of this path.

And now; when I constrain that mentioned path (its ends) to something that moves in MAIN ASSY, the spring will be updated (rebuilded) accordingly to e.g. swingarm movement but only in the main assy. If I open the FRAME ASSY, the spring stays updated but only accordingly to the position of swingarm in MAIN ASSY.

I know, describing that by words is a nightmare to a man who reads that now

PS. I would rather my MAIN ASSY to be flexible with moving swingarm and spring updating accordngly.

Regards,
Hubert