The document discusses various tips and techniques for creating and working with assemblies in SolidWorks, including: creating parts to use in assemblies, orienting and fixing part locations with mates, creating new coordinate systems, inserting and mating parts, replacing parts, handling large assemblies, analyzing movable assemblies, unfolding sheet metal parts, and generating cut lists for weldments. The document emphasizes using reference planes, mates, and coordinate systems to properly orient and relate parts in assemblies.

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.
If you are someone who is trying to understand CAD , I hope this was a
help.
If you are someone who need someone to help them create new design
and documentation I hope you will use the number below and give me a
call.
Thank You for Your Time.