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Edit standard views in an assembly
2

Edit standard views in an assembly

Edit standard views in an assembly

(OP)
Is there anyway that I can be able to edit the standard views in the assembly after I have inserted parts?  I am a beginner to Solidworks and did not properly mate the first item that I brought into the assembly to the orgin.  I have finished my assembly but the views are more like isometrics now then front and top.  Can anyone help me fixed this problem?  Is there anyway that I can select a surface and make that view the top view?  Can I just mate the origin to a side of a part to change the views?  Let me know if you have any ideas or suggestions.

Thanks,
Tim

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

The reason is, is because of the way you made the part at the part level. Its not SW fault for this. When you bring it into an assembly it automatically fixes it the way you design it in the part. If you don't like the location to fix this problem you float it (RMB the part in the tree (Right mouse button)), Add your own 3 mates to the planes is the best choice and that will fix it in space. If you try to rotate and fix it it will skewed.

To fix this in the future, design your parts according to the XYZ triad. This is an option you can turn on and see in the bottom left corner.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP pc2
www.scottjbaugh.com

Quote:

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

You can fix it per Scott's suggestion or go back and fix the mates. I would fix the mates so there are no reoccurring problems in the future.

Chris
SolidWorks/PDMWorks 08 2.0
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 10-07-07)
ctopher's blog

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

To reorient the standard views, hit the spacebar to open up the view orientation box.  Select the face (using a single left click) that you want to be the front.  Now double click on the "*Normal To" option.  If you need to further rotate your assy, hold down shift and use the arrow keys to rotate in exact 90 degree increments.  Once you have the part oriented to your liking, single click on *Front in the view orientation window.  After that, click on the icon in the view orientation window to "update standard views".  It looks like a telescope with an arrow rotating clockwise around it.  Now toggle between all of your standard views and see the result.

Using this technique is good, but beware if there are drawings already created with standard views, they will update and essentially get screwed up.  It is best to use good modelling techniques and good forethought, but sometimes these things can't be avoided.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

(OP)
Thanks Dustin.  That worked out great.

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

tachammer ...

Be aware that the Orientation technique is not permanent. Anyone at any time can hit the reset button and eliminate the new orientation.

cheers

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

Actually just delete the orientation and then its all off.. easy to fix, but will throw you when you look at it. Its better to use better design intent when designing your parts to an assembly.

It will save you far more headaches taking the extra steps in the beginning.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP pc2
www.scottjbaugh.com

Quote:

"If it's not broke, Don't fix it!"
FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

There is an easy way to fix this guys.  In the feature tree right clip the very first part you inserted and set it to float.  Then in the mate command select the face or plane that you want to be parrellel with the front, right or top plane and also select the right front or top plane and set that mate to be parellel.  If you want you can then right clip the first part you inserted and set it back to fixed (Although you don't have to, but I would reccomend it)

Essentially you are going to mate your assembly to one of the default planes.

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

This will work only if nothing else is mated to the assembly's primary planes.  I often clock my hardware to those planes.  If I attempted to float and reorient my first component, it would wreak havoc.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

That's why (wherever possible) only the first part should be fixed at the assy origin, and all subsequent parts should be mated to the first parts planes or features.

Re-aligning the first part would then take all the subsequent parts with it.

cheers

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

CBL,
Not to hijack the thread, but what are your thoughts on rebuild times and assembly efficiency.  My understanding is/was that the deeper mates go, the slower they are to resolve.  Essentially, two parts must be rebuilt in order for the mate to rebuild.  If the mate is to the top level planes, only one part needs to be rebuilt.  

I definitely agree that the ability to re-orient the base part and not screw up the model is desirable, but does that outweigh the (potential) increase of resources on a model.

This could be a moot point and I could be totally off base if the assembly rebuilds all parts before resolving all mates.  Does anyone know this to be the case?

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional

RE: Edit standard views in an assembly

ShaggyPE,
To be honest, I've never even bothered to compare rebuild times for efficiency. Most of my assys are relatively small; typically less than 100 unique parts, so large assy performance isn't an issue.

One of the first projects I had in SW was to tidy up a fairly complex piece of equipment. The models had been created by a user who was not an engineering type and was self-taught on SW. The end result of what he had created was impressive considering this, but the methods used to create and assemble the parts was terrible. I ended up recreating almost everything. One of the biggest problems was caused by everything being mated to the top level assy planes. Since then I have never made that same 'mistake'. I would rather suffer the performance hit (if there is one) than have to fix something like that again.

cheers

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