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Multiple Part Orientation When Inserting Into An Assembly

Question asked by Ken Whitcher on Feb 11, 2014
Latest reply on Feb 12, 2014 by Ken Whitcher

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When using INVENTOR, I can choose to have multiple instances of the same component inserted into the assembly, oriented the same way. From there, I use constraints to align the components to their proper locations.

Can the same be done with SOLIDWORKS?

Once the components are brought into the assembly, I'd still use constraints to properly place them, but when inserting multiple components, it would be nice to have them already turned around, facing the proper direction, leaving me with just having to use 1 or 2 constraints.

Jeff Mirisola Feb 12, 2014 11:09 AM

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Bring in the first instance and orient it the way you want it. Once done, ctrl+left click and drag the instance from the tree into the graphics area. Another instance of the component will be created, oriented the same way as the first. This eliminates the whole copy & paste thing.

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Glenn Schroeder Feb 11, 2014 4:11 PM
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Welcome to the forum. After inserting the components, you can use "Multiple mate mode" to place a series of identical mates to multiple components. (It's the paper clip with lightning bolt icon in the Mate Selections section of the Mate PropertyManager). I think that should do what you want.
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Jeremiah Feist Feb 11, 2014 4:43 PM
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it also sounds like you could get some mileage out of the "copy with mates" command.
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Dwight Livingston Feb 11, 2014 5:15 PM
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. . . you can also hold down the control key and drag a component in the graphics area to create a copy with the same orientation, located where you drop it. This does what I think you describe, and the copies don't have mates. The methods offered by Glenn and Jeremy may be more useful.
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Ken Whitcher Feb 12, 2014 10:50 AM
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My mistake.
I should have phrased my question a little better.

The problem is that the original component that I bring in is NOT oriented the correct way.

In INVENTOR, I can go to -
TOOLS > APPLICATION OPTIONS > ASSEMBLY
Then select "USE LAST OCCURRENCE ORIENTATION FOR COMPONENT PLACEMENT".

Once the "LAST OCCURRENCE" option has been selected, I can bring in the original component, orient it the way I want it to face. Then, every time I bring in more of the same component, they all will now come in, and be at the same orientation that I placed the original component at (turned the same way / rotated the same way). All I have left to do is constrain them.

If the "LAST OCCURRENCE" button is NOT selected, then it works like SOLIDWORKS does, where every time I bring in another one of the same component, they always come in the same way, based on which plane they were designed on.

Is there a selection button like this in SOLIDWORKS?
Is there another way to make this happen?

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UPDATE
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I don't know if there is an actual fix in SOLIDWORKS, but I found a way around my problem.
- I bring in the original component;
- Orient it to the way I want it to face;
- Constrain it;
- Then, for every additional insertion of that same component, I LMB click on the original component in the FeatureManager Design Tree, then, CTRL + C;
- Then, CTRL + V, placing the new components into the drawing area.
The new components are brought into the drawing area, at the same orientation as the original component.
I still have to constrain them, but at least they are facing the correct way.
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- Matt Martens @ Ken Whitcher on Feb 12, 2014 10:56 AM
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  As Jeremy stated,try out the copy with mates command (RMB on component, select copy with mates). It will bring in another copy and using the mates from the original, allow you to select geometry to mate the new component. This should eliminate the need to Ctrl+C - Ctrl+V and send you straight into the mode of mating your part.
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- Dwight Livingston @ Ken Whitcher on Feb 12, 2014 10:58 AM
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  Ken Whitcher wrote:
  
  Once the "LAST OCCURRENCE" option has been selected, I can bring in the original component, orient it the way I want it to face. Then, every time I bring in more of the same component, they all will now come in, and be at the same orientation that I placed the original component at (turned the same way / rotated the same way).
  Ken
  
  You are saying here that you want to repeat the orientation when you bring the component into a different assembly, rather than when you add an instance in the same assembly - yes?
  
  It is nto the same, but SmartMates should serve a similar function, and it may work better.
  
  http://help.solidworks.com/2012/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/SmartMates_Overview.htm
  
  Dwight
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- Jeff Mirisola @ Ken Whitcher on Feb 12, 2014 11:09 AM
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  Bring in the first instance and orient it the way you want it. Once done, ctrl+left click and drag the instance from the tree into the graphics area. Another instance of the component will be created, oriented the same way as the first. This eliminates the whole copy & paste thing.
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  - Ken Whitcher @ Jeff Mirisola on Feb 12, 2014 11:48 AM
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    Thanks, Jeff.
    
    I have tried your idea, bringing in the additional components (at different orientations) to verify that they come in correctly.
    It works perfectly.
    
    Thanks, again.
    
    I appreciate everyone responding to my question.
    
    (I moved over from a forum that mainly dealt with AutoCAD / Inventor questions. It would sometimes take a while to get a response. Y'all jumped on this very quickly. Since I now work with Solidworks, I believe this forum will be a great asset.)
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Multiple Part Orientation When Inserting Into An Assembly

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