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Best practice, ball bearing model from import

I have a project that will require the use of shielded ball bearings.  I downloaded a model from the vendor website (I used solidworks format).  The model is imported into a part studio as individual components that make up the bearing.

I would like to have only a single instance of the bearing, and assign the part number from the vendor so I can insert it into an assembly and have only one reference to the part as a whole in the BOM.

I thought I could just boolean all the parts together, and then assign the part number to the result.  Well, the parts don't intersect so the boolean operation does not work.  I know I could group them in an assembly, but then there is no way to assign a part number to the group?


https://cad.onshape.com/documents/6a747034d48ef1346ad1bc1f/w/f3e1f23f6352b61fc6862fb3/e/eb98a4cc6162a6a9b1291cf2

Best Answer

Answers

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    bill_de_la_vegabill_de_la_vega Member Posts: 20 EDU
    Ok so I came up with something that will work.  

    I created an assembly of the bearing, and made a suitable group.  I then assigned a part number to the assembly using the tab.  Then using a structured BOM the part number shows up correctly and does not break down the assembly into all its parts.

    Still wondering is there a better way to do this?
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    owen_sparksowen_sparks Member, Developers Posts: 2,660 PRO
    If all you need is a merged part could you just add a cylinder inside the existing parts such that that they now intersect? That way it will Boolean together.

    Owen S
    Business Systems and Configuration Controller
    HWM-Water Ltd
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    bill_de_la_vegabill_de_la_vega Member Posts: 20 EDU
    @owen_sparks I was just going to do that, but I thought there must be a better way.

    @michael_mcclain that is a good idea about using the mfg. weight information.
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    john_mcclaryjohn_mcclary Member, Developers Posts: 3,898 PRO
    Whatever you do, delete them balls. Way too much useless information that will slow down drawings (if you make drawings)
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    michael_mcclainmichael_mcclain Member Posts: 198 PRO
    Yep, I always hollow bearings out. Easier to store a weight in metadata than to carry around the extra baggage of useless geometry and more triangles to tesselate.
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