how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
(OP)
Hello,
Does anyone out there know how to "repeat" components into an assembly? For example, you have a sheetmetal plate, you insert one threaded pem insert into a hole and define 2 mates (bottom of pem to bottom of plate, and center axis of pem to center axis of plate hole). Then you want to add a bunch more of the same pem part to other holes in the sheetmetal plate, with no defined pattern, and without having to assemble 2 mates for each new pem. In Pro-E you can select the component, then "repeat" and select the axis mate, then simply select one by one each of the other hole axis's you want pems, they simply pop in and keep the other mate to the bottom of the metal plate...Adding a bunch of the same pems quickly to different locations, not one by one defining the two necessary mates for each and every pem. Hope that makes sense. Thanks in advance for your expertise.
Does anyone out there know how to "repeat" components into an assembly? For example, you have a sheetmetal plate, you insert one threaded pem insert into a hole and define 2 mates (bottom of pem to bottom of plate, and center axis of pem to center axis of plate hole). Then you want to add a bunch more of the same pem part to other holes in the sheetmetal plate, with no defined pattern, and without having to assemble 2 mates for each new pem. In Pro-E you can select the component, then "repeat" and select the axis mate, then simply select one by one each of the other hole axis's you want pems, they simply pop in and keep the other mate to the bottom of the metal plate...Adding a bunch of the same pems quickly to different locations, not one by one defining the two necessary mates for each and every pem. Hope that makes sense. Thanks in advance for your expertise.






RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
What the mate references do is allow you to add the appropriate mates automatically when dragging the part into your assembly. Check the help - I've done this in the past and it seemed pretty straightforward at the time.
RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
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RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
Chris
SolidWorks 07 3.0/PDMWorks 07
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 04-21-07)
RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
Matt
CAD Engineer/ECN Analyst
Silicon Valley, CA
sw.fcsuper.com
Co-moderator of Solidworks Yahoo! Group
RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
What might help you a little is the Multi-Mate tool - added in 2007. First add all the PEMs you need (quick by holding CTRL and draging and dropping the number you need from the feature manager tree). Then click the one face of the sheet metal and click the Mate command/button. Near the top left is a paper clip button with a lightning bolt going through it. Click that to enable multi-mates. Then you can click the correct face on each of your PEMs in that one command.
Mating your axes is another story, but at least this is a start.
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RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
Feature Driven Patterns are one of our most used commands for populating hole patterns with fasteners, spring packs, etc in the die designs we use.
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Anna Wood
SW 2007 SP4.0, WinXP
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RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly
One method that was not brought up here is one that use regularly. Here are the steps.
1) Have the PEM and the assy open.
2) Tile the screen so you can see both viewports.
3) Adjust your assy view so the hole you want to mate to is visible.
4) On the PEM select an edge that will be both concentric and coincident to its correct position in the assy.
5) Hold CTRL and drag the PEM edge into the assy and hover over the corresponding edge.
6) Toggle the coincident mate with the TAB key.
7) When you release the part will be mated with both mates.
8) Readjust your assy view and repeat as necessary.
This is a really fast way to add parts to assy.
Hope this helps if not a little late.
Cheers,
Boggs
RE: how to quickly "repeat" same component in assembly