If I create a simple square frame consisted of aluminum channels having distinctive hole patterns on each channel, is there a way to explode or export each channel with it's drill pattern? We have been using autocad for designing our product and then we use a program that came with out CNC machine to program those drill patterns so it twice the work, our CNC machine does accept solidworks model so that's why I'm curious.
Sure you can. Just Right Click on the Cut List folder and select Save Bodies.You will be able not only to externalize each body in its own part, but to also create an assembly with all the bodies in the right place. What is even more interesting is that you do not need any mate in that assembly. The master part will govern the location of all components in the new assembly.
Alin,
Thanks for the help, that asnswers my question for the above however, my weldment model is driven by Height and Width and it allows me to update the model size just by clicking and modifying it's dimensions, but I seem to lose that ability if I save it as an assembly. I actually want to be able to bring my weldment model into driveworks to generate some automation.
Wajih, the assembly will be driven by your weldment master part. When you modify the weldment, just rebuild the assembly and it should change.
Okay, so will there be any issues if I want to use it in driveworks?
As an alternative, you can create individual drawing views for each of the body of the weldment. That way you have only one model, the weldment, but as many drawings as the number of unique bodies.
http://help.solidworks.com/2013/English/solidworks/sldworks/hidd_dve_relative_view.htm
Welcome to SolidWorks forums Syed.
These should be helpful
Assembly from Part – No mates required (convert multibodies to Assembly)
Exploding a Multi-body part -1
Exploding a Multi-body part -2
You might also find this post helpful for your future reference.
Deepak,
Thanks for your help, quite usefull links
Sure you can. Just Right Click on the Cut List folder and select Save Bodies.You will be able not only to externalize each body in its own part, but to also create an assembly with all the bodies in the right place. What is even more interesting is that you do not need any mate in that assembly. The master part will govern the location of all components in the new assembly.