AnsweredAssumed Answered

multiple copy a component

Question asked by David Grieser on Aug 5, 2016
Latest reply on Aug 8, 2016 by David Grieser

Like • Show 1 Like1
Comment • 10

Raised on Autocad, how do you multiple copy a component in solidworks like you can in autocad?

The copy, rotate, copy so on seems like a lot of effort compared to Autocad.

I imported a caster assembly to solidworks assembly, then ctrl-left drag a part but only drag-copies the part your curser is on.

Thanks for any insight....

I noticed it notes every instance of a repeated block in a drawing with <1,2,3....> after it. Is this because of the BOM in the drawings?

trying to understand the working dynamics of solidworks. Thanks!!

Anna Wood Aug 5, 2016 9:51 PM

Correct Answer

Not sure what you are doing with the copy, rotate, copy. Think your AutoCad knowledge is throwing you a curve there.

Insert the caster asm multiple times and position with mates.

You can drag the assembly in multiple times from Windows Explorer, you do not have to use Insert > Component in the toolbar.

Select the top level assembly of the caster over in the feature manager tree and do your Ctrl, LMB and drag. Otherwise, you get individual components as you are seeing.

You can use Pattern Features. Insert > Component Pattern

The instance number are how many instances were added in total, it is a running count. Note though if you delete a couple instances then add more of the same the numbering will not be sequential. The instances do not have anything to do with the BOM.

See the reply in context

No one else had this question

Outcomes

Anna Wood Aug 5, 2016 9:51 PM

Not sure what you are doing with the copy, rotate, copy. Think your AutoCad knowledge is throwing you a curve there.

Insert the caster asm multiple times and position with mates.

You can drag the assembly in multiple times from Windows Explorer, you do not have to use Insert > Component in the toolbar.

Select the top level assembly of the caster over in the feature manager tree and do your Ctrl, LMB and drag. Otherwise, you get individual components as you are seeing.

You can use Pattern Features. Insert > Component Pattern

Actions

Deepak Gupta Aug 5, 2016 11:37 PM

You can also use copy with mates to quickly place that sub -assembly in desired positions (just need to pick new references and mates would be applied) or can use pattern also like Anna has suggested.

Actions

Glenn Schroeder Aug 8, 2016 10:22 AM

In addition to the excellent suggestions you got from Anna, I'd like to offer one more. I don't know what you're modeling, but let's assume it's a rectangular table. Insert and mate the caster assembly at the front right corner, then create a plane that's parallel to the front of your table and coincident with the center point (open the Create New Plane feature and select a front and back surface is the easiest way). Use this plane in the Mirror Component feature to insert the back right corner caster. Now create a second plane, also coincident with the center point, but parallel to the sides. Use it for another Mirror Component feature to insert both left casters and you're done. This method has the benefit of keeping the casters at the corners if the table's dimensions change.

As you can see, symmetry can be your friend in SolidWorks. By the way, if I had modeled the table then the Front and Right planes would already be centered on the table so there wouldn't have been a need to create new ones. I'm assuming that's not the case here.

Actions

John Stoltzfus @ Glenn Schroeder on Aug 8, 2016 9:58 AM

Or if the table is square you can use a circular pattern of 4 instances

Actions

Glenn Schroeder @ John Stoltzfus on Aug 8, 2016 10:17 AM

John Stoltzfus wrote:

Or if the table is square you can use a circular pattern of 4 instances

You're right, a circular pattern would work for a square table. If you're real sure it's going to stay square.

Actions

Jaja Jojo Aug 6, 2016 7:28 AM

you can use move/copy command if your in part level

Actions

David Grieser Aug 8, 2016 9:55 AM

Thanks Anna For introducing the feature correctly and to Glenn for the plane suggestion. Playing around with it, is very cool how all the casters are constrained to the first caster that anything changes, they all change relatively.

Also love the mirror command as the mirrored components, even in separate part files change as well.

Loving the Parametrics!

Actions

Glenn Schroeder @ David Grieser on Aug 8, 2016 10:21 AM

David,

I'm glad it's working for you, and glad you're enjoying the parametrics. I think you'll really like SolidWorks after you've used it a while. I was fortunate to start with it, so I didn't have any AutoCAD habits to unlearn, but I've observed that it sometimes takes a while. One of the engineers here where I work was a big AutoCAD proponent for a long time, but he finally saw the light.

Actions

David Grieser @ Glenn Schroeder on Aug 8, 2016 11:25 AM

Autocad is still the best 2d, but i love the 3d to 2d as well as the Drawing creation tools in Solidworks. Makes more sense in a visual standpoint. XREFS in Autocad were the only parametric type tool available, unless you dived into DIESEL.

Ill stick with Solidworks!

Actions

9 Replies

Chris Saller Aug 5, 2016 9:18 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Does this help?
http://help.solidworks.com/2016/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/c_Adding_Instances_of_a_Component.htm
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
Anna Wood Aug 5, 2016 9:51 PM
Unmark Correct
Correct Answer
Not sure what you are doing with the copy, rotate, copy. Think your AutoCad knowledge is throwing you a curve there.

Insert the caster asm multiple times and position with mates.

You can drag the assembly in multiple times from Windows Explorer, you do not have to use Insert > Component in the toolbar.

Select the top level assembly of the caster over in the feature manager tree and do your Ctrl, LMB and drag. Otherwise, you get individual components as you are seeing.

You can use Pattern Features. Insert > Component Pattern

The instance number are how many instances were added in total, it is a running count. Note though if you delete a couple instances then add more of the same the numbering will not be sequential. The instances do not have anything to do with the BOM.
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
Deepak Gupta Aug 5, 2016 11:37 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
You can also use copy with mates to quickly place that sub -assembly in desired positions (just need to pick new references and mates would be applied) or can use pattern also like Anna has suggested.
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
Glenn Schroeder Aug 8, 2016 10:22 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
In addition to the excellent suggestions you got from Anna, I'd like to offer one more. I don't know what you're modeling, but let's assume it's a rectangular table. Insert and mate the caster assembly at the front right corner, then create a plane that's parallel to the front of your table and coincident with the center point (open the Create New Plane feature and select a front and back surface is the easiest way). Use this plane in the Mirror Component feature to insert the back right corner caster. Now create a second plane, also coincident with the center point, but parallel to the sides. Use it for another Mirror Component feature to insert both left casters and you're done. This method has the benefit of keeping the casters at the corners if the table's dimensions change.

As you can see, symmetry can be your friend in SolidWorks. By the way, if I had modeled the table then the Front and Right planes would already be centered on the table so there wouldn't have been a need to create new ones. I'm assuming that's not the case here.
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
- John Stoltzfus @ Glenn Schroeder on Aug 8, 2016 9:58 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Or if the table is square you can use a circular pattern of 4 instances
  Like • Show 1 Like1
  Actions
  - Glenn Schroeder @ John Stoltzfus on Aug 8, 2016 10:17 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    John Stoltzfus wrote:
    
    Or if the table is square you can use a circular pattern of 4 instances
    
    You're right, a circular pattern would work for a square table. If you're real sure it's going to stay square.
    Like • Show 1 Like1
    Actions
Jaja Jojo Aug 6, 2016 7:28 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
you can use move/copy command if your in part level
Like • Show 0 Likes0
Actions
David Grieser Aug 8, 2016 9:55 AM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Thanks Anna For introducing the feature correctly and to Glenn for the plane suggestion. Playing around with it, is very cool how all the casters are constrained to the first caster that anything changes, they all change relatively.

Also love the mirror command as the mirrored components, even in separate part files change as well.

Loving the Parametrics!
Like • Show 1 Like1
Actions
- Glenn Schroeder @ David Grieser on Aug 8, 2016 10:21 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  David,
  
  I'm glad it's working for you, and glad you're enjoying the parametrics. I think you'll really like SolidWorks after you've used it a while. I was fortunate to start with it, so I didn't have any AutoCAD habits to unlearn, but I've observed that it sometimes takes a while. One of the engineers here where I work was a big AutoCAD proponent for a long time, but he finally saw the light.
  Like • Show 1 Like1
  Actions
  - David Grieser @ Glenn Schroeder on Aug 8, 2016 11:25 AM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    Autocad is still the best 2d, but i love the 3d to 2d as well as the Drawing creation tools in Solidworks. Makes more sense in a visual standpoint. XREFS in Autocad were the only parametric type tool available, unless you dived into DIESEL.
    
    Ill stick with Solidworks!
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
    Actions

multiple copy a component

Outcomes

Related Content

Recommended Content