4 Replies Latest reply on Mar 27, 2015 11:05 AM by Brian McEwen

How to set a fixed distance between two components in 3D assembly documents and copy a whole object?

Ongun Arisev Mar 25, 2015 8:40 AM

I am using Solidworks 2014 to model an optical setup and I would like to precisely fix the distance in three dimension between objects. In some cases both objects are mated to the, say the optical table, but in other cases one or both of them are floating. I searched the tutorials, but there seem to be a number of ways of doing it, so I would like to stick with the preferred one.

My second question is about copying an entire object that consists of 3 or more mates; is it possible to do so? For example in my case I have a post, post-holder and a mirror on top. I would like to copy all of this assembly and mate it on another position on the optical table. I think it is possible and I tried copy with mates but failed. I would appreciate your guidance here.

Many thanks

Re: How to set a fixed distance between two components in 3D assembly documents and copy a whole object?

Glenn Schroeder Mar 25, 2015 9:02 AM (in response to Ongun Arisev)

For your first question, there is a Distance Mate that should do what you need.

For the second question, one option would be to create an assembly of the three parts, mated to each other as you want, then insert this assembly into your main assembly as many times as needed.
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- Re: How to set a fixed distance between two components in 3D assembly documents and copy a whole object?
  
  Ongun Arisev Mar 27, 2015 8:31 AM (in response to Glenn Schroeder)
  
  Dear Glenn Schroeder thanks for your reply. I figured out how to do the distance mate. For the second question is there a more convenient way than creating a separate file for the assembly of three parts and copying this structure into the main assembly?
  
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  - Re: How to set a fixed distance between two components in 3D assembly documents and copy a whole object?
    
    Glenn Schroeder Mar 27, 2015 8:46 AM (in response to Ongun Arisev)
    
    Ongun Arisev wrote:
    
    Dear Glenn Schroeder thanks for your reply. I figured out how to do the distance mate. For the second question is there a more convenient way than creating a separate file for the assembly of three parts and copying this structure into the main assembly?
    
    I'm glad I could help. And I don't see how it could get any simpler than creating a sub-assembly and inserting it into the main assembly as many times as needed.
    
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Re: How to set a fixed distance between two components in 3D assembly documents and copy a whole object?

Brian McEwen Mar 27, 2015 11:05 AM (in response to Ongun Arisev)

in other cases one or both of them are floating
For this you may also want to look at
2014 SOLIDWORKS Help - Flexible Subassemblies
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