Understanding Assemblies creation in CAD using SolidWorks. A Step by Step demostation.

1. Assembly in SolidWorks
Norman F. Simms
CAD Mechanical / Electrical Designer

2. Creating a Part to Use in an Assembly
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

3. Make Assembly from Part
Orientate Part, Fix it’s Location, and Place Ordnance System
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

4. Mating the Bottom Face of Part Coincident to Top Reference Plane
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

5. Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390
Creating a Relations (Mate) on the Reference Plane
Remember that the Reference Planes are part of the part and are
very useful when orientating parts and assembles

6. You should create a new Coordinate System for your Assembly
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

7. Change the default Coordinate System to you New Coordinate System
This changes the Center of Mass in the Mass Properties
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390
Change Coordinate System
from the default to your new
Coordinate System

8. Insert Parts or Assembly to your new Assembly
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

9. Create Relationships between parts
This part has two mates (concentric & coincident)
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

10. This Assembly Part is still able to Rotate. This is ok if the part in moveable, but in
this case I want to Fix the Part in Place so an additional Mate is Needed
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

11. The uses of the Part’s Plane are used to Orientate and Fix the New Part in Place
A Parallel Mate is Used to Align the Part in this Assembly
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

12. A Replace Part command is use to replace parts, but in case an error is created
because the coordinate system placed on the first part will no longer exist. A new
coordinate system must be created.
Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390

13. Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390
When handling large Assemblies, it is a good idea to go to Options and turn on
Lightweight.

14. Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390
In Moveable Assemblies you are able to see the Range of Movement

15. Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390
Sheet Metal Parts can be Unfolded and Detailed for Manufacturing

16. Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390
Weldment Members can be Ordered from automatic generated Cut List

17. Norman F. Simms - CAD Engineering
Designer - 215-269-0390
Looking at an Assembly in 3D – we can spot problems and make the
necessary changes needed easier. In a moveable assembly we can
analyze the range of movement . Finally, because the system is
parametric we know that the changes to the assembly will translate to
the part model and drawings.
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