tips on moving origin or moving assy(with mates)to the standard origin 3

[aroundhere]

Ive seen some older verion posts asking this same question, but wanted to ask again. I was sent a assy with approx 100 parts. It is a 1.69 diameter x 60" long tool assy. The assy is not centered on the standard sworks origin, so generating quick sections etc.. is a pain. In the past I have just inserted the assy into a new assy and centered in on the origin. Is there not a way to move the origin to the assy, or move the entire assy to the origin? I created a new origin, but it didnt work out the way I needed it. Anyway...I just wanted to ask and see. Im running 2012.

 

[ctopher]

What were the answers in the other posts? I believe it will be the same answer.

Chris
SolidWorks 11
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[mjcole]

What is the reason for needing to move your assembly to the default origin?

Find out if there are any current mates to the assembly Origin or default planes.
Remove those mates then select all components and move to the origin and reapply the mates that originally referenced the top level ref planes or origin.

I think what aroundhere is getting at is that there may be some new functionality that didn't exist when those original posts were made.

There is the new View Mates, Edit Mates and Replace Mates UI. I'll take a look and see if I can find a better method than the one I described above. These would help in determining if any components reference the top level planes. Creating a new assembly and bringing in the current would work and then you could possibly move the original assembly parts out of the original assembly and to the top level by drag-dropping them to it.

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[jassco]

Hi, aroundhere:

Actual parts or assemblies in the physical world do not have origins. You do not need origins to create views and section views.

Best regards,

Alex

 

[aroundhere]

thanks guys. I have to do alot of quick sections in the assy model to keep viewing the inside details of the model I design new parts and add them to this assy. Everything is the tool is hidden since the (almost) entire length is a housing. When you do a section, by default it grabs the standard sworks right, top and front planes. I then have to move the section plane over or grab the plane I created and section it. Its just a few more seconds of my life which isnt a big deal, but its irritating. I wish there was a way to change the default section when you hit the section icon. Actually, if I could change the default section I would be happy. Its not so much about the origin as it is the sworks default planes. thanks

 

[ArtL]

Use the planes that are with the specific part you are checking.It will show the whole assy sectioned, not just the part that the plane is associated with.If you know ahead of time, you could make a custom plane within the part, when you model the part,then when you insert the part into the assy, you already have a plane in position where you want it.

 

[drawoh]

aroundhere,

The move button allows you to type in coordinates. Also, you can assemble your base part to the front, top and right planes of our assembly.

The question you must ask before you do this is, what else did they screw up in the model? You may be destroying some in-context feature, especially if all your parts are not constrained.

Back up your working directory before you attempt anything.

JHG

 

[Updraft]

Pick any flat surface before selecting the section tool. SWX will cut through the assembly on that pane. From there you candrag the cutting plane and reverse the direction of view. If you have nothing picked and then pick the section tool, yes, SWX will default to the primary planes. The section tool has so many benefits, but it sounds like you are not using it in the easiest and most flexible way.

- - -Updraft

 

[EEnd]

You can also save section views, then press space and select the name to activate the section. If you have a handful of sections / planes that you return to, saving them to names might be the easiest thing to do.

Eric

 

[EngineerErrant]

Short answer: there's no reason you shouldn't be able to relocate the assy. to the origin.

As mjcole suggested, check to make sure that there aren't any mates between parts and the reference planes. Additionally, check that there are no parts that are "fixed" in the assy. (The first part is generally fixed by default; right-click and select "Float" from the menu.)

After that, you can mate things to the origin as if it were any other point.

"Engineers like to solve problems. If there are no problems handily available, they will create their own problems." -Scott Adams