I've tried what you're doing several times. Seems no matter how careful I am setting up the configurations, each time I open the model at least 1 sheet in the detail dwgs is messed up. I often need to do this to show different machine positions for the equipment I design. The SW's way of...
Thanks everyone. I knew & have used both of those ways.
Think I'll stick with my prefered method:
1) Export Assembly
2) Import into other CAD program
3) Scale assembly
4) Export Assembly
5) Import assembly into SW
Still end up with a dumb assembly, but at least each part is a seperate part...
I don't think this answers my question.
I know I how to scale a part model. But I haven't found a way to scale an assembly of parts. Can SW's scale a complete assembly?
If you have any other CAD program you could see if it'll import Solid Works files directly, or if the people you're getting the drawings from will convert them into a format you can import. Perhaps there's even a cheaper CAD program out there that'll import SW Files, but I wouldn't know what...
When it suddenly barfs on mates it used to like, I use windows task manager to force the program to quit.
This loses any work since the first save, but the mates work again when I reopen the assembly. Saves lots of time recreating good mates.
Guess I don't understand why SW overdefines a mate...
I usually add all the hardware. Also using patterns to simplify placements. But I then create a folder called fasteners and place all the hardware in that folder. That allows me to hide/show all hardware by right-clicking on the folder.
Speeds things up with big assys if you can easily hide...
Some of it made sense. Some didn't, so I tried his example.
Drew a block. Inserted 2 copies of the block into an assembly. 1 fixed, 1 not.
Added 3 mates to totally constrain the unfixed block next to the fixed block. No problems. Nothing overdefined.
The overdefined example just doesn't...
I've had this happen a few times, once this week in fact. Seems random, at least I couldn't figure out what caused it, or get it to reoccur on purpose.
What I do is go around the sketch and delete each line. Sometimes there's two, sometimes three, sometimes only one line (seems random). Pick...
Won't help you in this case, but I've started saving copies of all my final assemblies for a project as part files. May not help you at all as you lose all your part creation data. On large assys best to start the save and go to lunch or go home.
Started this after spending 20 minutes...
I find it funny how anything even slightly negative about SW is met with a statement that says in effect: 'well you shouldn't do it that way anyway.'(followed by some justification) LMAO
Well, just because YOU don't want to draw it that way doesn't mean everyone feels that way. Simply put it...
Join works well, though it's kind of a convoluted process. Follow the help directions exactly.
If I understand right, the simplist would be to do a 'Save As'. Just select 'Save As Type' Part. This'll leave you with a dumbsolid made of 2 seperate solid bodies.
