Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
(OP)
I have an assembly model that consists of two components. A drawing was created of this assembly. Later one of these components was found to no longer be needed. I still have a drawing of the assembly that now contains only the one part.
The drawing is of a sheet metal component that has some PEM hardware inserted. The assembly is an "inseparable assembly" and we do a drawing of the assembly file only. No drawing is ever created of the part. In this redesign, the pems are no longer be needed, we can do away with the assembly file.
Ideally I would like to replace the assembly reference within the drawing with the part model. I would then delete the assembly file. I don't want to recreate the drawing from scratch and can't seem to trick SW into recognizing the part file.
Anyone ever run into this situation?
Thanks in advance,
Shaggy
The drawing is of a sheet metal component that has some PEM hardware inserted. The assembly is an "inseparable assembly" and we do a drawing of the assembly file only. No drawing is ever created of the part. In this redesign, the pems are no longer be needed, we can do away with the assembly file.
Ideally I would like to replace the assembly reference within the drawing with the part model. I would then delete the assembly file. I don't want to recreate the drawing from scratch and can't seem to trick SW into recognizing the part file.
Anyone ever run into this situation?
Thanks in advance,
Shaggy






RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Pick the part you want to replace it with, and OK the rest. You may lose a dimension or 2, but if the parts are alike, most should be there.
Flores
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
FAQ371-376
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-1091
FAQ559-716
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Those methods were the first two I tried. In that order as a matter of fact.
The first results in an error message stating:
Invalid Operation: Cannot change file type (e.g. from Part to Assembly)
The second give this message:
Cannot rename or replace file with different SolidWorks file type.
I thank you for your input, but unfortunately it looks like I am up the creek. It sure seems like SW should allow the user to do this.
-Shaggy
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Making the best use of this Forum. FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. FAQ559-520
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Making the best use of this Forum. FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. FAQ559-520
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site
FAQ371-376
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-1091
FAQ559-716
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
I have tried both of the methods outlined above and got the error messages as stated.
I will outline my steps for the SW explorer method to see if I am missing something:
1. Open SW Explorer.
2. File > Open > Drawing in Question
3. Right Click on Assembly Icon in Feature tree that is beneath Drawing icon.
4. Select Replace
5. Browse for part to replace the assembly. (when attempting to change file type in the drop down, only assemblies are an option [cannot browse for part]).
6. Manually type in part that I want to replace the assembly with. Hit OK
7. Get error message.
The version of SW Explorer I am using is 12.1041.0 Copyright 2004.
Just to verify I am trying to replace an assembly with a part in the context of a drawing, not an assembly. Is there possibly a setting that I have missed that will allow the action I have outlined?
Thanks again for the input.
-Shaggy
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Thanks,
Shaggy
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies
www.3dvisiontech.com
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
FAQ559-716 - SW Fora Users
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
[img=http://img41.exs.cx/img41/5576/replace2ar.jpg]
I cannot get it to work in SW Explorer though ... only via the Open > References method.
Making the best use of this Forum. FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. FAQ559-520
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
That help topic pertains to the context of an assembly, not a drawing.
When you get it to work via the Open > References method, are you:
1. file > open
2. single click on the drawing
3. going to references, then dbl-clicking on the assembly path.
4. This lets you browse. Then you select the part that was the only part within the assembly?
And you're not getting an error?
Thanks for taking the time to assist me with this problem.
-Shaggy
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
Could maybe someone else try this with SW 2005. I am still using 2004. This maybe something added to 2005.
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
What do you mean by "inseperable assy"?
Could you just suppress the PEM hardware & let the drawing update from that?
Making the best use of this Forum. FAQ559-716
How to get answers to your SW questions. FAQ559-1091
Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of. FAQ559-520
RE: Drawing reference: Was assembly, is Part.
The example with the pems is inseparable because once the pems are inserted, they aren't being removed. We would do a drawing of the assembly model, locating the pems the way you would locate holes. We do not call out the hole size because the manufacturer may not end up using pems at all. He may use some knock-off clinch fastener with its own recommended hole size. All I want is a 4-40 x .50 stud. I don't care what size hole he put it in. This is basically what we had before the re-design. Now we no longer need the pems at all. They have been deleted from the assembly model. The original holes sizes were changed to now be clearance holes. But my drawing still looks at the assembly. I don't want this extra model file floating around, taking up a marginal amount of space and confusing the heck out of somebody 5 years from now. I would like the drawing to look at the part. As it appears, SW will not allow me to change the model reference. So it goes. I think I may send in an enhancement request.
Thanks for everyone's help on this one.