Flexible/Rigid assembly

[CATPart]

I would like to put inside one of mine subproducts new component, which will contain only screws ( for better tree visualization ). In order to position these screws I have to make this component flexible, but then I lose the update of reused patterns in my product, this is documented in on-line HELP:

'When a sub-assembly containing an Assembly Feature, an Assembly Symmetry or a Reuse Part Design Pattern is flexible, these features cannot be updated because the flexible mechanism is not compatible with them.'

Is there a workaround for this?

Regards,
Damir

 

[ryengnut]

Have you tried to insert a "Component" into your top assembly and then inserting all your screws into that component.

 

[l3ob]

We use a sub-product within our Assembly product to hold all of the fasteners for the parent Assembly. We actually call it out with the same Assembly part number and add '_FST' as a suffix. We use a utility to 'Snap' the fasteners into place (Aircraft assemblies generally have lots of fasteners). One can also use constraints in the sub-assembly if the product size doesn't matter. It's been working well for us.

 

[CATPart]

I3ob,

Then this (FST) sub-product must be flexible, this is OK if you want to position (constrain) each fastener manually, but I use a lot the reuse pattern function to copy the fasteners... and after reuse pattern is done new instances are placed into the main assembly.