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switching between assembly and features in top down assembling

Question asked by Robert Gillis on Jul 1, 2019
Latest reply on Jul 1, 2019 by Robert Gillis

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Hi,

I am trying to learn to design using the Top-Down method. There is an example in the book "Solidworks 2018 Advanced Techniques" that I used to make a vise. I made the vise, but there were times I found it difficult to be in the environment I wanted to be in. As you must be familiar with, you have to design while in the assembly mode. When I tried designing a new part, I sometime found myself in the assembly mode, which didn't have a Feature tab showing that would allow me to modify the part I was trying to create. To solve this problem, I would back out and start again. After doing to over and over again I was able to stumble into the environment I needed to make my parts but I didn't know what changed that allowed me to do this. There must be some way of switching between assembly and feature modes while still being in the assembly environment to meet the needs of the design process. Does anyone have a good idea to do this?

Thanks.

Josh Brady Jul 1, 2019 4:11 PM

Correct Answer

This is the "Edit Part" button. Select any part in an assembly and click this button to enter "edit part" mode within the assembly. The part will turn blue in the feature tree, and this icon will appear in the upper right hand:

You can then add features etc. to that part.

To return to assembly mode, click that icon in the corner, or look for a mashed-in button somewhere on a toolbar that looks like this:

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J. Mather Jul 1, 2019 3:46 PM

Please Attach your assembly here.

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Josh Brady Jul 1, 2019 4:11 PM

You can then add features etc. to that part.

To return to assembly mode, click that icon in the corner, or look for a mashed-in button somewhere on a toolbar that looks like this:

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Jim Steinmeyer @ Josh Brady on Jul 1, 2019 4:33 PM

Following Josh's advice, I find that it is often desirable to create new parts while in the assembly.

To do this I use Insert> Component > New Part and place the part.

It can be tricky placing the part and orienting it but you can look in the help section and the tutorials on creating virtual parts to learn how to do it. It is probably a topic in your book. Once you have the part you can switch back and forth between part and assembly as Josh mentioned.

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Robert Gillis @ Jim Steinmeyer on Jul 1, 2019 8:44 PM

Thanks Jim, I have been doing what you suggested. Josh gave me the key I was looking for.

Bob

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Robert Gillis @ Josh Brady on Jul 1, 2019 8:37 PM

Thanks Josh, that did the trick. :-)

Bob

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Kevin Moss Jul 1, 2019 4:34 PM

While in an assembly, if you click on the down arrow under "Insert Component" you find the "New Part" option. When you select this you're expected to click on a surface or a plane in order to start a sketch. Depending on how your system settings are set the new part could be virtual or saved to an external file.

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Robert Gillis @ Kevin Moss on Jul 1, 2019 11:33 PM

Thanks Kevin,

I updated my Assembles section in the System Options to include a check mark in "Save new components to external files as you suggested.

Bob.

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7 Replies

J. Mather Jul 1, 2019 3:46 PM
Mark Correct
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Please Attach your assembly here.
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Josh Brady Jul 1, 2019 4:11 PM
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Correct Answer

This is the "Edit Part" button. Select any part in an assembly and click this button to enter "edit part" mode within the assembly. The part will turn blue in the feature tree, and this icon will appear in the upper right hand:
You can then add features etc. to that part.

To return to assembly mode, click that icon in the corner, or look for a mashed-in button somewhere on a toolbar that looks like this:
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- Jim Steinmeyer @ Josh Brady on Jul 1, 2019 4:33 PM
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  Correct Answer
  Following Josh's advice, I find that it is often desirable to create new parts while in the assembly.
  To do this I use Insert> Component > New Part and place the part.
  
  It can be tricky placing the part and orienting it but you can look in the help section and the tutorials on creating virtual parts to learn how to do it. It is probably a topic in your book. Once you have the part you can switch back and forth between part and assembly as Josh mentioned.
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  - Robert Gillis @ Jim Steinmeyer on Jul 1, 2019 8:44 PM
    Mark Correct
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    Thanks Jim, I have been doing what you suggested. Josh gave me the key I was looking for.
    Bob
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- Robert Gillis @ Josh Brady on Jul 1, 2019 8:37 PM
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  Thanks Josh, that did the trick. :-)
  Bob
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Kevin Moss Jul 1, 2019 4:34 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
While in an assembly, if you click on the down arrow under "Insert Component" you find the "New Part" option. When you select this you're expected to click on a surface or a plane in order to start a sketch. Depending on how your system settings are set the new part could be virtual or saved to an external file.
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- Robert Gillis @ Kevin Moss on Jul 1, 2019 11:33 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Thanks Kevin,
  I updated my Assembles section in the System Options to include a check mark in "Save new components to external files as you suggested.
  Bob.
  Like • Show 1 Like1
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switching between assembly and features in top down assembling

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