Copying Parts Between Part Studios

Nate

Is there a way to copy a part from one part studio to another?

jakeramsley

You can copy an entire part studio by using the "Copy to clipboard" option on the context menu when right clicking on the tab.  From here, you can go to your document and hit the plus sign in the bottom left corner to add a new tab and choose "Paste tab".

Copying just a part from one part studio to the other isn't possible yet.

brucebartlett

@jramsley do you think a copy replace tab would be a good idea? or should I just wait for referencing a parts across docs.  

Example: I have parts in doc 1 of which I have copied a tab to doc 2, I change the tab in doc 1 then copy the tab to doc 2 but I can not get it to replace the original tab with the updated tab. 

pete_yodis

On a similar vein.. I have requested the ability to insert a single part studio into another one.  I have a design where I have imported parts from McMaster Carr.  I can use them in an assembly, but currently can't insert them into another part studio where I am laying out the design.  I would therefore have to model parts in that layout part studio that I could easily have brought it in.  I'm kinda stuck.  I can't efficiently create a layout using inserted McMaster Carr parts.  I would tackle it in the assembly mode, but there is not patterning in assemblies yet... Ticket #2198.  I also have interest for this with modeling a casting in one part studio, then inserting it into another part studio to do the machining.  This keep it nice and clean.  I woudl prefer to do this all within one compound document.

lougallo

@BruceBartlett I would suggest waiting.  As most of us do, we FIND A WAY to get things done despite the limitations of today.  This is awesome but we want to make sure that what is being suggested is not going to augment what the future holds.  If a certain workflow has been forged out of a missing function, it can sometimes be difficult to back up and look at the bigger picture and plan accordingly.

brucebartlett

Thanks @LouGallo I realise referencing parts key to Onshape's success and expect it to be implemented in an elegant manner. I'll save my feedback for when we see this in Onshape, sooner rather than later, hopefully. Bruce

Mike Harris

I've had the same issue, and it's HUGE for me.  I have found a workaround for it.  Here's a summary:

1. import all of your part files
2. create an assembly using the least amount of mates. this is a temporary assembly.
3. right click on your assembly, and translate it to a parasolid.
4. translate your parasolid assembly to a flattened part studio. 

At this point you should have a part studio with all required parts to "Use" your geometry any way you need.  Hope this helps people as much as it helped me.

pete_yodis

Just closing the loop on this thread...  Derived parts has been released this past week.  This now allows you to insert a part studio into another part studio.  Excellent addition.

peter_hall

Ok this allows you to copy one part studio to another part studio within the same document. What do people do if you want to copy a part studio or assembly into a different document.

brucebartlett

@peter_hall if you can live without a link you can RMB on a part studio (not available with assy's) tab to copy, then use the + bottom left on the alternative doc to paste. 

Also you can not do a full part studio as a derived feature only parts, sketches and planes. 

peter_hall

@brucebartlett  thanks for the quick response , that sounds easy and should let me start building and using a parts library.

brucebartlett

@peter_hall Yes copy tab is a great start for a library, only problem is if you update your library you can not copy and replace the tab in the docs and retain links. I suggest trying to get your library tabs right before you do a copy or updating both the library and places it's used at the same time. I started a fastener library but haven't filled out all sizes yet, I planed to build all the parts in studio series and copy tabs to docs as needed. check it out https://cad.onshape.com/documents/516b1784884d4facbc4c0d74/w/8e947edb43904354bb16b3f2 

peter_hall

@brucebartlett  link just defaults back to my own documents page.

brucebartlett

peter_hall said:

@brucebartlett  link just defaults back to my own documents page.

Try this: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/516b1784884d4facbc4c0d74/w/8e947edb43904354bb16b3f2/e/589eaf71321043e28046aac0

peter_hall

@brucebartlett  got it that time. 

Michel_Storms

jakeramsley said:

You can copy an entire part studio by using the "Copy to clipboard" option on the context menu when right clicking on the tab.  From here, you can go to your document and hit the plus sign in the bottom left corner to add a new tab and choose "Paste tab".

Copying just a part from one part studio to the other isn't possible yet.

This is something that ***SHOULD*** be included at all costs though. I was planning to migrate from Fusion 360, but am now stuck because I can"t import a part I spent several hours modelling on in Fusion into my Onshape part studio...

brucebartlett

@michel_storms "copy to clipboard" relates only to moving parts (part studio tabs) between different Onshape documents. If you want to get parts in from fussion you will have to use the import functions  . You will need to export from fusion with the appropriate file type, Onshape Import Types.

Michel_Storms

brucebartlett said:

@michel_storms "copy to clipboard" relates only to moving parts (part studio tabs) between different Onshape documents. If you want to get parts in from fussion you will have to use the import functions  . You will need to export from fusion with the appropriate file type, Onshape Import Types.

I know, but it imports the part in a new Part Studio, and there is seemingly no way to copy it to the Part Studio I am working in. I am designing a 3D-printer and have multiple parts that need to be edited together before added to the main Assembly...

andrew_troup

@michel_storms:
You could try using "Derive" to get a linked copy of your part from the 'new Part Studio' (in your post) to the one you're working in.

If you want to edit the derived part, you will have to do that to the master (in the 'new Part Studio')

Michel_Storms

Thanks, but that's still no solution, as I need to edit the part together with the others (some boolean operations etc...)

andrew_troup

It is possible (reading your previous post) that you mean something different by "edit" than I meant.
I use it in the limited and specific sense that Onshape use it.

If my hunch is correct, you may find you actually can
"edit the (derived) part together with the others (some boolean operations etc...)"

billy2

Mike Harris-

I'm also importing geometry into Onshape using your technique. I have found that having one huge part studio isn't ideal and have been exporting bits and pieces into manageable partstudios. I'm using derived methods to re-assemble these bits into a larger partstudio. Now that we can position partstudios inside other partstudios, this approach kinda works. Forget about assemblies.

Other than the derived bugs well documented here in the forum, it seems to be a promising structure for larger projects.

I wish I could hide an inserted partstudio inside another partstudio. To me it's all about making things go away and bringing them back. I'm interested in working on 1000 component partstudios and setting up a structure that allows this operation. You can't pick the top level when importing a derived partstudio. The display tries to update when picking each derived component which is way too painful and slow. There are a lot things that are wrong with this approach, but if you can endure, what you end up with is nice. Maybe you could call it an engineering layout. Like Pete said, I'll I want to do is create a layout. I'm pushing it further than importing McMaster Carr parts, I'm building the entire structure this way. So far it's not bad.

Back to your huge partstudio. I Wish there was a way to divide a huge partstudio into manageable chunks. It would be nice to bring in a huge project into one large partstudio and break it up into manageable chunks inside OS. Having to break it down inside the sending system seems wrong, some one say unjustifiable. I think you'll end up with a better OS data structure if you try and break up your export and manage the import into OS. 

I've also submitted an ticket to remove the import option that doesn't flatten the assembly. When you uncheck this option, the components in the partstudios are stacked about the origin and renders the partstudio useless. This shouldn't be possible, ever. Why does it exist? 

mark_jolley

Why not just derive the part? Won't that accomplish the same thing?

Jake_Rosenfeld

@mark_jolley This is a very old discussion, it was actually started months before Derived Part was released (August 2015).  Derived Part and Assembly In-Context are both good workflows for problems like this now.