Workflow question - parts, assemblies etc.

leecasey

Hi, I'm a bit confused with how I should structure my parts and assemblies after running into an issue / limitation. I'll start with what I did and the problem I encountered. I am coming from Creo to help you understand my intentions. 

I created a part studio and created a "tank", I started to build a frame around this tank in the part studio. I created an assembly and added the contents of the part studio. I added some other components (moving). I went back to the part studio and added some extra parts to the frame. I was expecting the assembly to update but since discovered this is not how it works. 

So whats the best approach here? Even if I created the frame in a subassembly, if I wanted to go back and add a section to the frame in the part studio my subassembly isn't going to update. Do I then I have to insert the extra part from the part studio and mate it in the assembly? 

Thanks for your time and I hope I made that clear enough. 

nick_papageorge_dayjob

Yes, you insert the new parts from the part studio to the assembly. If it’s drawn in place, you can add it to the existing group in the assy. 

Think of it this way: your studio may contain 10 parts, but one assembly will use 7 of them, and another assembly will use 6 of them. This allows you the freedom to reuse parts in different assemblies at will. 

nick_papageorge_dayjob

Yes, you insert the new parts from the part studio to the assembly. If it’s drawn in place, you can add it to the existing group in the assy. 

Think of it this way: your studio may contain 10 parts, but one assembly will use 7 of them, and another assembly will use 6 of them. This allows you the freedom to reuse parts in different assemblies at will. 

eric_pesty

Depending what you need in your top level (i.e. do you need a BOM of you "frame"?) you can also create a composite part (the "frame" tools do that when you do the cutlist) in your part studio and use that in your assembly.
If you then add anything to the composite it will show up in the assembly.

leecasey

nick_papageorge073 said:

Yes, you insert the new parts from the part studio to the assembly. If it’s drawn in place, you can add it to the existing group in the assy. 

Think of it this way: your studio may contain 10 parts, but one assembly will use 7 of them, and another assembly will use 6 of them. This allows you the freedom to reuse parts in different assemblies at will. 

Hi Nick, thanks for that. The part is indeed created in place. Is there an automatic way to add this new part to the assembly "in place" so to speak? 

leecasey

eric_pesty said:

Depending what you need in your top level (i.e. do you need a BOM of you "frame"?) you can also create a composite part (the "frame" tools do that when you do the cutlist) in your part studio and use that in your assembly.
If you then add anything to the composite it will show up in the assembly.

Hi Eric, so if I create a cutlist this will automatically turn the part studio into a composite part? 

eric_pesty

leecasey said:

eric_pesty said:

Depending what you need in your top level (i.e. do you need a BOM of you "frame"?) you can also create a composite part (the "frame" tools do that when you do the cutlist) in your part studio and use that in your assembly.
If you then add anything to the composite it will show up in the assembly.

Hi Eric, so if I create a cutlist this will automatically turn the part studio into a composite part? 

The cutlist feature creates a composite part of the frames in the part studio yes. Note that it doesn't create a "closed" composite so the individual parts are still present in the part studio so you still have to insert the composite into your assembly (instead of the parts) but once you have done this any edits to parts forming the composite (or adding new parts to the composite) will be included. 
It might be helpful to review the the composite part topic if you are not familiar with how they work.