Sean Dalton

Assembly Topics Housekeeping Housekeeping Placing parts Placing parts Assembly relationships Assembly relationships Path Finder Path Finder Assembly part properties Assembly part properties Creating a part in place Creating a part in place Part Display Part Display Explode Environment Explode Environment

Assembly

Warning on House keeping All parts, assemblies and drafts associated with a given assembly should be kept in the same directory or folder. All parts, assemblies and drafts associated with a given assembly should be kept in the same directory or folder. Do not attempt to move or rename parts after they have been placed in an assembly. Do not attempt to move or rename parts after they have been placed in an assembly. - An assembly file does not contain the actual parts themselves. It is simply a set of links to parts/locations and a definition of how they go together. The advantage of this is that if an individual part is modified, the changes are automatically reflected in the assembly.

Warning on House keeping Everytime an assembly is opened in Solid Edge. Solid Edge reads the assembly information, gathers together all the parts and reassemblies them. Everytime an assembly is opened in Solid Edge. Solid Edge reads the assembly information, gathers together all the parts and reassemblies them. If a part is renamed or moved solid edge will not be able to find it and it will dissappear from you assembly. If a part is renamed or moved solid edge will not be able to find it and it will dissappear from you assembly. The information defining the locations of the files are contained in the assembly links (next slide) The information defining the locations of the files are contained in the assembly links (next slide)

Assembly Links To check the locations from which files have been assembled check the file links under Edit Links To check the locations from which files have been assembled check the file links under Edit Links

The Edge bar The edge bar serves a number of usefull purposes and can be activated by selecting the edgebar icon on the main toolbar. Two uses are: The edge bar serves a number of usefull purposes and can be activated by selecting the edgebar icon on the main toolbar. Two uses are: - To Display Existing parts within an assembly - To display the available the construct an assembly i.e. the parts library.

Assembly Pathfinder The assembly path finder shows parts and subassemblies already contained within an assembly The assembly path finder shows parts and subassemblies already contained within an assembly The lower section shows the assembly relationships for the selected part. The lower section shows the assembly relationships for the selected part.

Parts library The parts library displays parts available for assembly in a specified directory. The parts library displays parts available for assembly in a specified directory. The lower part displays a preview of the selected part. The lower part displays a preview of the selected part. Assemblies can be created by: Assemblies can be created by: - Assembling existing parts - By creating a part in place

Placing parts Create in place Create in place Place from file Place from file Place part tool

Create in place

Place from file To Create in place Activate edge bar Activate edge bar Select parts Library tab Select parts Library tab Select folder containing parts required. Select folder containing parts required. Drag and drop parts into graphics area. Drag and drop parts into graphics area.

Assembly Pathfinder Top section Parts subassemblies in assembly Lower section Assembly relationships of selected part

Part status Activate part Activate part - (full part details in mem) Inactivate part Inactivate part - (min rep to save mem) Hidden part Hidden part - Part removed from view Unloaded part Unloaded part - Part removed from memory

Assembly Relationships Mate Align Insert Connect Angle

Reading the path finder Interpreting pathfinder icons. Interpreting pathfinder icons.

Mate/Align/Insert Relationships Mate Align Insert

Align with Offset Where two faces are require to face the same direction but to be displaced from one another by a specified amount Where two faces are require to face the same direction but to be displaced from one another by a specified amount

Align with Floating offset Where to faces are required to face the same direction but are diplaced from each other by an unknown amount. Where to faces are required to face the same direction but are diplaced from each other by an unknown amount.

Assembly Ribbon Bar

Moving Parts in Assemblies Before all assembly constraints are applied a part can be move using move part: Linear, Rotate, and Dynamic Linear, Rotate, and Dynamic Blue axis appear appear to use to translate or rotate part. Blue axis appear appear to use to translate or rotate part.

*How to use Connect Relationship? Connect relationship should be used in conjunction with other relationships, meaning they will help define a mate, align or angled relationship better (e.g. a pivot point for an angled relationship) Connect relationship should be used in conjunction with other relationships, meaning they will help define a mate, align or angled relationship better (e.g. a pivot point for an angled relationship) Connecting parts with opposing draft angles Connecting parts with opposing draft angles Consider Connect as a “working” relationship rather than a “stand-alone” Consider Connect as a “working” relationship rather than a “stand-alone”

*The Connect Relationship First get the two parts constrained as best as possible. First get the two parts constrained as best as possible.

*Connect (con’t) Place your next critical relationship Place your next critical relationship

*Connect (con’t.) Firm up the design with connects Firm up the design with connects

*The Angle Relationship After defining the two faces to measure too, the system will generate the pivot point automatically (5th step skipped) After defining the two faces to measure too, the system will generate the pivot point automatically (5th step skipped) Axial aligns will dictate pivot point (5th step skipped) Axial aligns will dictate pivot point (5th step skipped) Reference planes can be used! Reference planes can be used! Different result if two model edges are used Different result if two model edges are used

*The Angle Relationship- 2 surfaces The angle is applied to the surfaces according to the X and Y orientation The angle is applied to the surfaces according to the X and Y orientation - surfaces may flip (90 may be 270)

*The Angle Relationship - 2 Edges User must give a pivot axis perpendicular to the selected edges (5th step) User must give a pivot axis perpendicular to the selected edges (5th step) System ignores X and Y orientation and works off a “straight” coordinate system. System ignores X and Y orientation and works off a “straight” coordinate system. An axial align must pre-exist or the system will prompt for this relationship! An axial align must pre-exist or the system will prompt for this relationship!

*The Angle Relationship - 2 Lines First element is the measure too First element is the measure too Second element is the origin element Second element is the origin element Quadrants: Quadrants: - 1 is cc - 2 is c - 3 is oo / c - 4 is oo / cc

*Exploding your assembly Automatic Explode Automatic Explode Manual Explode Manual Explode Editing the Results Editing the Results Un-exploding Un-exploding

*Automatic/Manual Explode Automatic Select what you do and don’t want to explode. Users have no control over explode direction Unexploded parts and subs stay put. Manual Explode Users can explode parts in any direction they desire. User must select every part to explode

*Editing Exploded Assemblies Moving Moving Re-positioning Re-positioning Collapsing Collapsing Adding Joggles Adding Joggles Un-Exploding Un-Exploding

*Part Display Status Show Part Show Part Hide part Hide part Show only (hides all others) Show only (hides all others) Activate part (full part details in mem) Activate part (full part details in mem) Inactivate part (min rep to save mem) Inactivate part (min rep to save mem)

*Why de-activated? Saves Memory Saves Memory Reduces file initialization Reduces file initialization No impact on relationship solving No impact on relationship solving No impact on rendering No impact on rendering New Pathfinder Icons New Pathfinder Icons

*Unloading Hidden Parts Any part that is hidden can be unloaded from memory! Any part that is hidden can be unloaded from memory! No effect on solving! No effect on solving!

*Using Sketches One sketch can be used on multiple parts One sketch can be used on multiple parts Sketch changes, all related parts change. Sketch changes, all related parts change.

*Using Sketches Be sure to turn on the “link” when including an edge from a sketch. Be sure to turn on the “link” when including an edge from a sketch. There are limits for parts linked to an assembly sketch (coping; deleting) There are limits for parts linked to an assembly sketch (coping; deleting) Use the Break Links command to break the associative link to the sketch. Use the Break Links command to break the associative link to the sketch. Each part must be edited separately Each part must be edited separately

Assembly Variable Table What is the real use? What is the real use? How hard is it? How hard is it?