Is it possible to refer to part geometries or outlines in sketches within other parts?

DwightA

I have a part which is a type of housing. It will have various other parts from the document connected to it. I would like to be able to reference the outlines (at least) of those parts, without redoing (and duplicating) the part geometries within the housing part. I would also like to avoid spinning all the parts out of one part studio, as this seems counter to the OnShape philosophy. Any quick pointers appreciated; I'm a newbie and suspect there's a solution I'm simply not aware of.

nick_papageorge073

Both are useful to know. When you derive a part into a new part studio, the new part studio will inherit the regeneration performance of the studio the derived part came from. In-context editing does not. So from a performance standpoint of a complicated design, in-context is better.

Derive is more useful IMO for layout work. Let's say you were designing an office desk phone. It has an overall shape of the base portion and overall shape of the headset portion. Then each of those pieces is split into multiple injection molded pieces that will have a lot of detail added to their insides. One strategy is to do the overall shape and splits in one part studio. Then derive each of those split parts into their own part studio to do all the inside work on each part.

David_YL_Nguyen

https://learn.onshape.com/courses/managed-in-context-design

DwightA

Thanks David. This is very useful to know about. I've also been playing around with Derived and using part outlines with the Offset tool in sketches with some success. Not sure yet when to use one approach vs the other.

nick_papageorge073

Both are useful to know. When you derive a part into a new part studio, the new part studio will inherit the regeneration performance of the studio the derived part came from. In-context editing does not. So from a performance standpoint of a complicated design, in-context is better.

Derive is more useful IMO for layout work. Let's say you were designing an office desk phone. It has an overall shape of the base portion and overall shape of the headset portion. Then each of those pieces is split into multiple injection molded pieces that will have a lot of detail added to their insides. One strategy is to do the overall shape and splits in one part studio. Then derive each of those split parts into their own part studio to do all the inside work on each part.

DwightA

Nick, thanks for the very helpful clarification. Greatly appreciated.