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How can I move/align referenced part?

Question asked by Axel Dahmen on Feb 2, 2020
Latest reply on Feb 4, 2020 by Dan Pihlaja

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I have another beginner's question:

I know there are assemblies to join several parts. But there's also an option to use reference parts in a part file itself.

After I referenced another part in my main part file I am not able to move the referenced part.

I'm also not able to create coincident mates to points in the referenced part as I cannot select anything in the referenced part.

Am I doing something wrong? I couldn't find any information on this in the help or by googling. Well, when I reference another part, shouldn't I then be able to correctly align/position it in the main part file?

Your help is very much appreciated.

No one else has this question

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23 Replies

Krzysztof Szpakowski Feb 2, 2020 8:27 AM
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You are in part mode, not assembly! Why you always choice different and difficult way?
For move body/part click choice body and use:
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- Axel Dahmen @ Krzysztof Szpakowski on Feb 2, 2020 8:19 AM
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  That's right. That's what the question is about.
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- Maha Nadarasa @ Krzysztof Szpakowski on Feb 2, 2020 9:05 AM
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  Krzysztof Szpakowski wrote:
  
  Why you always choice different and difficult way?
  
  He has already answered your question.
  
  Answer:
  beginner's question:
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  - Krzysztof Szpakowski @ Maha Nadarasa on Feb 2, 2020 9:19 AM
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    You are wrong, his answer is:
    That's right. That's what the question is about.
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    - Axel Dahmen @ Krzysztof Szpakowski on Feb 3, 2020 12:39 PM
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      That's easy to answer, Krzysztof Szpakowski, I'm asking because I'm learning SolidWorks. Well, let me put it this way: learning a software isn't circumventing a software's features, it's mastering its features.
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      - Krzysztof Szpakowski @ Axel Dahmen on Feb 3, 2020 1:21 PM
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        So learn to use the program properly. Don't make bad habits. Why use a cannon when you only need a defense stick? The cannon is harder to handle and takes more time - if you know what I want to say.
        In addition, you can easily find answers to all your questions in the tutorials included with the program. Start from this. In this case, just click RMB and you have access to the "move" command. Discovering alone teaches (and enjoys) much faster! Believe me.
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        Axel Dahmen @ Krzysztof Szpakowski on Feb 3, 2020 2:56 PM
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        There is not bias on features until you know what they can do and what they cannot do. So, from a beginner's perspective, both approaches should be the same. There is no cannon and no stick from the view of a beginner. There's only options the program offers.
        
        You say: "Don't use this feature." But I don't know your skill set and program knowledge. Perhaps someone else in this forum might have had a satisfying answer to my question. Who knows in advance?
        
        SolidWorks help doesn't say: "Don't use part references." Even my tutorial book suggests to use part references: Konstruieren mit SolidWorks - Harald Vogel - Google Books
        
        So, why do you believe I should tend to avoid features if both "official" sources suggest them?
        
        Anyway, now, after neither I nor any of you can get this to work with part references I will refrain from using this feature - after I have learned it's lacking an important trait. Not just because anyone is intuitively telling me not to use it for no reason.
        
        That's what learning (and this experts forum) is about.
        
        Today I learned that part references may only be used as the first item, right after a part's origin.
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        Barry Watkins @ Axel Dahmen on Feb 4, 2020 1:04 PM
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        Why not learn from the experience of others? Why do something the hard way? Is there an advantage to inserting parts within parts vs using assemblies, I don't see one. Keep banging your head against a wall even though others tell you a better way. That's up to you. If you learn an advantage to doing it this way, please share it.
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        Glenn Schroeder @ Barry Watkins on Feb 4, 2020 1:52 PM
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        Barry Watkins wrote:
        
        Why not learn from the experience of others? Why do something the hard way? Is there an advantage to inserting parts within parts vs using assemblies, I don't see one. Keep banging your head against a wall even though others tell you a better way. That's up to you. If you learn an advantage to doing it this way, please share it.
        
        There are some in very specific instances. I've done it a few times when I needed nuts in a multi-body Part. I'd insert them in the Part so I could call them out with the cut list.
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        Krzysztof Szpakowski @ Axel Dahmen on Feb 4, 2020 1:48 PM
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        OKAY. Make an assembly as a multibody part. And then make documentation for this. And then make changes. And then ask in the forum: Why do I have a new revision in the drawings of all parts ifI changed only one!? Then I will write with satisfaction: Look for answers here:
        Konstruieren mit SolidWorks - Harald Vogel - Google Books
        
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Rob Edwards Feb 2, 2020 9:48 AM
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Hi Axel

In addition to what Krzysztof Szpakowski says...

When in the Insert Part Property Page.
If you check this box - A Move/Copy feature is added as a sub-feature of the Insert Part Feature itself.

This is useful when you also want to mate imported sketches\ref geom etc.
Applying a Move/Copy feature afterwards will only move the bodies.
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- Axel Dahmen @ Rob Edwards on Feb 3, 2020 2:24 PM
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  Hi, Rob Edwards,
  
  I tried your suggestion, but to no avail:
  
  I'm not able to put any positioning or orientation constraint on the referenced part.
  
  I wonder: What is this feature good for if you cannot put things where they belong?
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  - Rob Edwards @ Axel Dahmen on Feb 3, 2020 2:42 PM
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    Hi Axel
    
    Just keep going - (it's not like in an assembly where it can be unconstrained) you are creating a transformation by applying mates and can use as many as you like
    For simple translations you can also change the property page
    
    to this
    
    or
    
    It works I promise you !
    
    Try selecting the edge and the point concentric.
    In this case due to the geometry I created I would also need to align the face
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    - Krzysztof Szpakowski @ Rob Edwards on Feb 3, 2020 3:01 PM
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      Rob, I think that Axel have other problem: Can I get dimension text box being opaque?Troll?
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      - Rob Edwards @ Krzysztof Szpakowski on Feb 3, 2020 3:37 PM
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        Krzysztof Szpakowski wrote:
        
        Rob, I think that Axel have other problem: Can I get dimension text box being opaque?Troll?
        Looks to me like he was mating a point to a planar face and expecting it to do more than put the point on the Plane the Face is on.
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        Krzysztof Szpakowski @ Rob Edwards on Feb 3, 2020 4:17 PM
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        Rob Edwards wrote:
        
        Krzysztof Szpakowski wrote:
        
        Rob, I think that Axel have other problem: Can I get dimension text box being opaque?Troll?
        Looks to me like he was mating a point to a planar face and expecting it to do more than put the point on the Plane the Face is on.
        Looks to me like you don'n read link
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  - Barry Watkins @ Axel Dahmen on Feb 3, 2020 3:22 PM
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    The easy answer is to avoid inserting parts within parts. I've known people who like to build that way, but it's much more difficult to manipulate them. You don't get full feature mating, just move/copy. I would tend to insert your parts into an assembly when more than one part is involved instead of inserting a part in a part.
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    - Axel Dahmen @ Barry Watkins on Feb 3, 2020 3:56 PM
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      I agree. After having reproduced every step Rob Edwards suggested I now share the same opinion.
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Glenn Schroeder Feb 2, 2020 12:07 PM
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"Well, when I reference another part, shouldn't I then be able to correctly align/position it in the main part file?"

No. That isn't how the software works. When you use a reference Part, as you put it, you typically wouldn't need to move it later. If you do, then any references to it would likely get messed up. Instead of moving the reference Part it would be better to just change the way the rest of the Part referenced it so you don't need to move it. Without seeing exactly what you're trying to do it would be difficult to give a more specific answer. The solution Rob Edwards gave should help.

And I agree that it's often better to use an Assembly for this situation instead of inserting a Part into a Part. I rarely use that feature.
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- Krzysztof Szpakowski @ Glenn Schroeder on Feb 2, 2020 12:19 PM
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  Glenn Schroeder wrote:
  [...]
  And I agree that it's often better to use an Assembly for this situation instead of inserting a Part into a Part. I rarely use that feature.
  This feature is irreplaceable for make mold. Modeling cavity or core is simply. I never had to use it in other case.
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- Axel Dahmen @ Glenn Schroeder on Feb 3, 2020 1:00 PM
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  Hi Glenn Schroeder, I don't want to move it later. I want to position it correctly right at the beginning. When inserting a part reference, I need to define at least one point in the existing part and one point in the referenced part to coincide. I can't just drop the part reference somewhere in the graphics area. I need the referenced part to be at the correct position and orientation.
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  - Glenn Schroeder @ Axel Dahmen on Feb 3, 2020 1:35 PM
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    Axel Dahmen wrote:
    
    Hi Glenn Schroeder, I don't want to move it later. I want to position it correctly right at the beginning. When inserting a part reference, I need to define at least one point in the existing part and one point in the referenced part to coincide. I can't just drop the part reference somewhere in the graphics area. I need the referenced part to be at the correct position and orientation.
    
    Then the answer above from Rob Edwards should solve it for you.
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Dan Pihlaja Feb 4, 2020 2:21 PM
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OK, the only way to move this part at this point is to add a another feature. This feature would be a Move body feature.

Called Move/Copy Bodies.

You can get to it here as well:
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How can I move/align referenced part?

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