Chapter 9Advanced Assembly Modeling Techniques

• After completing this chapter, you will be able to perform the following: – Create sketch blocks– Create design view representations– Create an assembly substitution– Create flexible assemblies– Create positional representations– Create overlay drawing views– Use iCopy

Chapter 9 - Objectives

• After completing this chapter, you will be able to perform the following: – Detect contact in assemblies– Mirror an assembly– Copy an assembly– Create assembly work features– Create assembly features– Use the Frame Generator– Locate commands related to the Content Center

and Design Accelerator

Chapter 9 – Objectives - Continued

Sketch Blocks• What are sketch blocks

– Capture design intent– 2D sketch geometry– Each block represents a part– Add sketch constraint

Sketch Blocks• Create sketch blocks

1. Created 2D sketch

2. Click Sketch Tab > Layout Panel > Create Block

3. Select geometry

4. Select an insertion point

5. Enter a block name

6. Sketch block created inBlock folder

Sketch Blocks• Place sketch blocks

1. From browser place sketch block

2. Add sketch constraints

3. If under constrained you can drag sketch blocks

Sketch Blocks• Nested sketch blocks

1. Nest blocks to create a subassembly2. Make flexible to allow open degrees of freedom

to move3. Export to parts or assembly files

• Make Part command• Make Component command

Exercise 9-1

• Sketch Blocks

Design View Representations • Save configurations that show the assembly in

different states, stores the following– Component visibility (visible or not visible)– Component selection status (enabled or not

enabled)– Color settings and style characteristics applied in

the assembly– Zoom magnification– Viewing angle

• Create New Design View Representation• Make Active• Rename• Lock• Public vs. Private Design Views

Design View Representations

• New Design View Representation

• Make Active – check mark

• Lock – view changes are not reflected in locked Design View Representation

Design View Representations

• Drawings From Design View Representations • Select Representation from list• Associative – Yes / No

Design View Representations

Levels of Detail Representations• Improve capacity and performance in

modeling and drawing environments– Suppress components– Right-click on component

• Browser• Graphics Window

Levels of Detail Representations• In assembly file

– Expand Representations folder– Select required Level of Detail

• Open existing assembly– Click Options– Select required Level of Detail

Levels of Detail Representations• Creating a drawing view of an assembly

select a Level of Detail Representation to be used from the drawing view dialog box.

Assembly Substitution - Level of Detail Representation

• Remove detail from a part or an assembly– Derive Assembly– Select Part File

Assembly Substitution - Level of Detail Representation

• Derive Assembly– Create a New Substitute with the Derive

Assembly option– Derive a Subassembly with desired options

Assembly Substitution - Level of Detail Representation

• Select Part File– Create a part with same orientation– Create a New Substitute with the Select Part

File option

Create a Substitution - Level of Detail Representation - Shrinkwrap

• Simplify an assembly– Remove detail– Protect intellectual property– New file

Create a Substitution - Level of Detail Representation - Shrinkwrap

• Simplify an assembly– Existing part

Flexible Assemblies • Set Flexible property to a subassembly to allow

movement independent from other occurrences of the subassembly

Flexible Assemblies • Right-click on the subassembly in browser or

graphics window and click Flexible from the menu

Positional Representations • Create a motion study of an assembly

model– Based on positional representation

• Create Base Views based on Positional Representation

Positional Representations

Creating Overlay Views • Overlay views document positional

representations of an assembly in a single view.

Exercise 9-2

• Positional Representations

iCopy• While placing an assembly, copies of the

assembly will be created to fit connecting points and paths

iCopy• Author• Create skeletal model, or sketch, that will be used as an

iCopy template.• Use the iCopy Author command - Manage tab > Author panel

iCopy• Place the iCopy template into an assembly• iCopy command from the Assemble tab > Component

panel• Determine which parts are new or reused

Contact Detection Solver• Determines how assembled components

behave when a mechanical motion is applied

• Document Settings - Activate Contact Solver

• Properties dialog box

Contact Detection Solver• Add components to set

– Browser– Graphics Window

• Under constrained components

Contact Detection Solver• Driven constraint

– Document Settings– Contact will drive under constrained

components that are in the Contact Set

Mirroring Components in an Assembly

• Mirror assembly components or an entire assembly in the current design file

• In an assembly click the Mirror Components tool

• Select a plane to mirror components about

Mirroring Components in an Assembly

• Select components to mirror and select operation for each component

Mirroring Components in an Assembly

• More area of the dialog box– Reuse Standard Content and Factory Parts– Preview Components

• Mirrored• Reuse• Standard Content

Mirroring Components in an Assembly

• File Names– Prefix– Suffix– Naming Scheme

Mirroring Components in an Assembly

Copying Components in an Assembly

• Copy assembly components or an entire assembly in the current design file– Copy Components command– Select components in

graphics screen orBrowser

• Select components to copy and select operation for each component

Copying Components in an Assembly

• File Names– Naming Scheme

• Prefix• Suffix

Copying Components in an Assembly

Exercise 9-3

• Mirroring Assembly Components

Assembly Work Features• Create work planes and axes

between parts in an assembly by selecting edges or points on parts.

• These work features remain tied to each associated part and adjust accordingly as the assembly is modified

• Assembly features are features that are defined in an assembly

• Only affect a part when the part is viewed in the context of the assembly

• Assembly features only remove material

Assembly Work Features

• In an assembly sketch on a part’s:– Face– A part’s work plane– An assembly work plane

Assembly Work Features

Assembly Feature Tools• Assembly features exist only at the

assembly level

• The assembly features do not affect the individual part files

Assembly Feature• Removing and Adding Participants

Exercise 9-4

• Creating Assembly Features

Frame Generator• Create frame structures

– Skeleton part (modeling)– Frame commands

Frame Generator• Steps to create frame

1. Create skeleton part

2. Place members using the edges of the skeleton part

3. Members inserted from the frame generator

4. Add end treatments; miters and had holes etc.

Exercise 9-5

• Using the Frame Generator

Content Center• Library of standard components

• Place components while in an assembly

Content Center• Publish feature to Content Center

• Publish components to Content Center

Design Accelerator• Create complex parts and features based

on engineering data such as ratio, torque, power, and material properties.

• The Design Accelerator consists of:– Component generators– Mechanical calculators– Engineer’s Handbook

Applying Your Skills• Skill Exercise 9-1

Checking Your Skills1. True_ False_ A Design View Representation can control the display style, such

as shaded or wireframe, of an assembly model.2. Which of the following are types of design view representations?

a. Dynamicb. Publicc. Privated. Static

3. What is the purpose of a positional representation?4. When a new positional representation is added to the browser, how many are

created by default? a. 1b. 2c. 3d. 4

5. When would you want to make an assembly have the Flexible property?Continued….

Checking Your Skills - continued

6. True_ False_ Assemblies can only be made flexible when used in another assembly as a subassembly.

7. When mirroring an assembly component, which icon would you use to determine that the component is being mirrored?

8. True_ False_ Creating features in the context of an assembly will update the individual parts that make up the assembly automatically.