We are working with a part in Solidworks that is imported from another program. One of the planes is way out in space while the other two are fairly centered in the part. Is this just how the part is made or something to do with Solidworks importing? And can these planes be moved? And can the origin too be moved?
What about moving the Origin point? The planes are not aligned which is what is confusing. I know we can create planes. I do not have a problem with that.
You can't move the the default origin but can create a new coordinate system
Re: the planes,
In the Feature Manager, right click each plane and select Autosize.
Re: the origin,
Create a new Co-ordinate System http://help.solidworks.com/2011/English/solidworks/sldworks/AllContent/SolidWorks/Core/Ref_Geom/t_Creating_a_Coordinate_System.htm
Save as a parasolid using the Options to select the newly created co-ord system
Open the parasolid and the origin and planes will have adopted the new co-ord system
Tim,
Doug is right. It is how the part was created either in or out of the assermbly.
I had this happen to me yesterday when I inserted a new part in my assembly
then created the part within the assembly. 2 planes were with the geometry and the third
was way out in space.
With automotive & airplane parts, stuff like this is "normal"...parts are often designed so that the part origin is the same as the assembly origin (many companies require it to be done this way). As a result, the parts can have some really screwy orientations/planes/origins.
I hear you. We make cylinders and some of them get quite lengthy
so the same applies. I usually don't worry about the out in space
planes because a lot of times they are a non factor.
Yeah the part was created in a program that is over 10 years old. I don't know how to setup planes to be initially setup like this, but I suppose that I can see the advantage.
My boss wanted all the planes basically centered in the part. We used the move parts feature and it worked like a charm. I realize we could just add planes for the desired effect.
It is because that was how the part was made/modeled, it has nothing to do with Solidworks importing.
The default planes cannot be moved, and the origin cannot be moved...parts, on the other hand, CAN be moved. Also, new planes can be added and new coordinate systems can be added.
You can move the entire part using move/copy bodies and then create the required planes. If required save as IGES/STEP after setting the part and re-import again