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When to work in an Assembly versus a Part

Question asked by Rick Steele on Oct 26, 2012
Latest reply on Oct 26, 2012 by Rick Steele

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I'm new to Solidworks but I've free form solid modeling in KeyCreator for the last 8 years.

I'm typically designing products which are assemblies and all the parts go together. I understand the differences between assemblies and parts, but I'm confused as to where I should be working on my parts in detail. When working on a part usually you have reference data and mating parts that you turn on and off frequently. I'm trying to figure out the best workflow and best practices. Also, is this the "top down design' on the assembly side that I keep hearing about?

Thanks!

Lenny Bucholz Oct 26, 2012 9:34 AM

Correct Answer

Rick,

To first answer the question is this top down, yes if you are referencing other parts by using relations, dimensions or using there faces to start sketchs for the new part your working on.

So here is my rule of thumb, I'll start the part in the assembly were it needs to be extract geom. from the parts there and build what I need at that point, then I will open the part and do all the detail work at the part state that way I don't pickup and un-needed relation\constrains.

Now while this is going on I still have the assembly open in the background icase I have to do something their, so I control\tab back and forth or just edit part in the assembly.. Now you will have to figure out your best way as we all have, my way isn't their way or yours, maybe will agree for this job but may not on the next, it's all in the way we each work.

So now I'll throw this on at you....multibodies in a part file. works kind of like the direct modelers but with history and parametrics.

Multibody Parts

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Tony Cantrell Oct 26, 2012 9:17 AM

Yes, the top down assy is using references from other parts within the assy. You can work on parts while in the assy, just RMB on the part in the FM tree and select edit part. The only thing with the references is that your part is always dependant on one or more external references.

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Wayne Schafer Oct 26, 2012 9:18 AM

Rick

I feel your pain. They have KeyCreator here where I work also. When I first started here KeyCreator was all they had for CAD software. Three years ago we brought in Solidworks. I was given the task of training our 50+ engineers on how to use Solidworks. The biggest problem I had was to try and get them to forget how they modeled in KeyCreator. The tutorials was a good starting point. We also have loaded Solid Professior which is a great tool for learning Solidworks. Both of those items I have suggested show you best practices. Plus I am sure your VAR has some training classes.

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Lenny Bucholz Oct 26, 2012 9:34 AM

Rick,

To first answer the question is this top down, yes if you are referencing other parts by using relations, dimensions or using there faces to start sketchs for the new part your working on.

So now I'll throw this on at you....multibodies in a part file. works kind of like the direct modelers but with history and parametrics.

Multibody Parts

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Rick Steele @ Lenny Bucholz on Oct 26, 2012 9:47 AM

Lenny,

Thanks for your info!

I'll research those links and see where it takes me. I took the 4 day essentials class and have watched numerous tutorial videos based on indiviual functions, they are awesome but applying in the real world is a challenge here in the beginning. I've been looking for a good simple example of say a 3 to 5 piece assembly hoping to see a good work flow example of how to design it as a system. Make sense?

Thanks!

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Jerry Steiger Oct 26, 2012 4:08 PM

Rick,

Depending on what your assemblies look like, you might want to look into the master model approach. It works well where you have a small number of parts with a lot of interactions. Start out the design as a single part with multiplle bodies. Design in all of the features that depend on the other bodies. When you've got that worked out, split the part bodies into multiple parts in an assembly. Now you can detail the stuff that doesn't depend on the other parts in each of the parts and add other pieces that you don't want to design in the original multi-body part.

This approach works well for designing the case parts for products like our hand-held computers.

Jerry S.

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Rick Steele @ Jerry Steiger on Oct 26, 2012 4:28 PM

Thanks Jerry!

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6 Replies

Tony Cantrell Oct 26, 2012 9:17 AM
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Yes, the top down assy is using references from other parts within the assy. You can work on parts while in the assy, just RMB on the part in the FM tree and select edit part. The only thing with the references is that your part is always dependant on one or more external references.
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Wayne Schafer Oct 26, 2012 9:18 AM
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Rick
I feel your pain. They have KeyCreator here where I work also. When I first started here KeyCreator was all they had for CAD software. Three years ago we brought in Solidworks. I was given the task of training our 50+ engineers on how to use Solidworks. The biggest problem I had was to try and get them to forget how they modeled in KeyCreator. The tutorials was a good starting point. We also have loaded Solid Professior which is a great tool for learning Solidworks. Both of those items I have suggested show you best practices. Plus I am sure your VAR has some training classes.
Like • Show 1 Like1
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Lenny Bucholz Oct 26, 2012 9:34 AM
Unmark Correct
Correct Answer
Rick,

To first answer the question is this top down, yes if you are referencing other parts by using relations, dimensions or using there faces to start sketchs for the new part your working on.

So here is my rule of thumb, I'll start the part in the assembly were it needs to be extract geom. from the parts there and build what I need at that point, then I will open the part and do all the detail work at the part state that way I don't pickup and un-needed relation\constrains.

Now while this is going on I still have the assembly open in the background icase I have to do something their, so I control\tab back and forth or just edit part in the assembly.. Now you will have to figure out your best way as we all have, my way isn't their way or yours, maybe will agree for this job but may not on the next, it's all in the way we each work.

So now I'll throw this on at you....multibodies in a part file. works kind of like the direct modelers but with history and parametrics.

Multibody Parts
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- Rick Steele @ Lenny Bucholz on Oct 26, 2012 9:47 AM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Lenny,
  Thanks for your info!
  I'll research those links and see where it takes me. I took the 4 day essentials class and have watched numerous tutorial videos based on indiviual functions, they are awesome but applying in the real world is a challenge here in the beginning. I've been looking for a good simple example of say a 3 to 5 piece assembly hoping to see a good work flow example of how to design it as a system. Make sense?
  Thanks!
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
  Actions
Jerry Steiger Oct 26, 2012 4:08 PM
Mark Correct
Correct Answer
Rick,

Depending on what your assemblies look like, you might want to look into the master model approach. It works well where you have a small number of parts with a lot of interactions. Start out the design as a single part with multiplle bodies. Design in all of the features that depend on the other bodies. When you've got that worked out, split the part bodies into multiple parts in an assembly. Now you can detail the stuff that doesn't depend on the other parts in each of the parts and add other pieces that you don't want to design in the original multi-body part.

This approach works well for designing the case parts for products like our hand-held computers.

Jerry S.
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- Rick Steele @ Jerry Steiger on Oct 26, 2012 4:28 PM
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  Thanks Jerry!
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When to work in an Assembly versus a Part

Multibody Parts

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Multibody Parts

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