EXPORT ASSEMBLY IN POSITION AND AS ONE PART

mauricio_bremer

So I made an assembly of a "sphere" made out of pentagons and hexagons by mating their faces but when I try to export the assembly (as STP or parasolid) all the parts are separated and in their original position (not mated). The only way I found to keep the assembly arrangement is to export it as STL but I need this part as a solid to modify it.

I know there is a derived feature and I could translate each part to the right position and then unite it (boolean). The problem is there are a lot of different parts and it would be a pain in the neck to place mate connectors to each part individually.

Is there a way to export an assembly (as STEP or parasolid) as one part in the assembly position?

alnis

That's weird that the STEP doesn't have them in the right positions. The STEP or Parasolid file that comes from the Export menu should match your assembly. As a temporary workaround, can you maybe make a part studio in context and use either "Copy in place" (under the "Transform" tool) or "Enclose" to get a single part that you can then export? Is it possible to share a public link to your document? (Share -> Public -> Make public) A link to the model will make it easier to help.

Edit: Oops, I forgot to include the example I made: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/41d9157f2726349bd842ab5c/w/8f97295d9e416c940046c91a/e/60d92b0c9c1fba3570b076f7

mauricio_bremer

alnis_smidchens said:

That's weird that the STEP doesn't have them in the right positions. The STEP or Parasolid file that comes from the Export menu should match your assembly. As a temporary workaround, can you maybe make a part studio in context and use either "Copy in place" (under the "Transform" tool) or "Enclose" to get a single part that you can then export? Is it possible to share a public link to your document? (Share -> Public -> Make public) A link to the model will make it easier to help.

Edit: Oops, I forgot to include the example I made: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/41d9157f2726349bd842ab5c/w/8f97295d9e416c940046c91a/e/60d92b0c9c1fba3570b076f7

Yeah looks like a good workaround! Thx

alnis

No problem! Good luck with your project!

edward_pan

I hope I'm not digging up an old post, but it seems this discussion is still relevant, and I have found a directi solution: In an assembly, hide all instances but the ones you need to export; then, export them by right clicking the tab of the assembly (uncheck "Include hidden instances in export" in the pop up, obviously). This way, those parts will "remember" their mated positions after being exported.