5/31/2013

Learning Objectives
• Create bottom-up assemblies.
• Add mates to assemblies.
• Create top-down assemblies.
• Move individual components.
• Rotate individual components.
• Visualize the components of assemblies based on their physical properties.

 ASSEMBLY MODELING

Figure 1 The New SolidWorks Figure 2 The Assembly mode with the Begin
Document dialog box Assembly PropertyManager

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• Types of Assembly Design Approaches

• Bottom-up Assembly Design Approach
• Top-down Assembly Design Approach

 CREATING BOTTOM-UP ASSEMBLIES

• Placing Components in the Assembly Document
• Placing Components Using the Insert Component PropertyManager
CommandManager: Assembly > Insert components
SolidWorks menus: Insert > Component > Existing Part/Assembly
Toolbar: Assembly > Insert components

Figure 3 The Begin Assembly

PropertyManager

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• Starting an Assembly From the Part Document

SolidWorks menus: File > Make Assembly from Part
Menu Bar: New flyout > Make Assembly from Part/Assembly
• Placing Components Using the Opened Document Window

Figure 4 Placing a component in the assembly file by

dragging it from an existing window

• Placing Components Using the File Explorer Taskpane

Figure 5 Selecting a part from the File Explorer task pane

• Placing Additional Instances of an Existing Component in the Assembly

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• Assembling Components
• Assembling Components Using the Mate PropertyManager
CommandManager: Assembly > Mate
SolidWorks menus: Insert > Mate
Toolbar: Assembly > Mate

Figure 6 The Mate

PropertyManager

Figure 7 The Mate pop-up toolbar

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• Coincident

Figure 8 Combinations for applying Figure 9 Faces to be selected for

the Coincident mate applying the Coincident mate

Figure 10 The Coincident mate applied Figure 11 The Coincident mate applied
with the Anti-Aligned button chosen with the Aligned button chosen

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• Concentric

Figure 12 Combinations for applying Figure 13 Faces to be selected for

the Concentric mate applying the Concentric mate

Figure 14 The Concentric mate applied Figure 15 The Concentric mate applied with
with the Aligned button selected the Anti-Aligned button selected

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• Distance

Figure 16 Combinations for

applying the Distance mate

Figure 17 Faces to be selected Figure 18 The Distance mate applied

to apply the Distance mate between the selected faces

• Angle

Figure 19 Combinations for applying

the Angle mate

Figure 20 Faces to be selected Figure 21 Assembly after

to apply the Angle mate applying the Angle mate

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• Parallel

Figure 22 Combinations for applying

the Parallel mate

Figure 23 Faces to be selected Figure 24 Assembly after

to apply the Parallel mate applying the Parallel mate

• Perpendicular

Figure 25 Combinations for applying

the Perpendicular mate

Figure 26 Faces to be selected Figure 27 Assembly after applying

to apply the Perpendicular mate the Perpendicular mate

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• Tangent

Figure 28 Combinations for applying

the Tangent mate

Figure 29 Entities to be selected Figure 30 Assembly after

to apply the Tangent mate applying the Tangent mate

• Applying Multiple Mates

Figure 31 Top face of the Base Plate Figure 32 Assembly after applying the Coincident
selected as the common reference mate between the Bolts and the Base Plate

• Mates • Options

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• Assembling Components Using the Smart Mates

CommandManager: Assembly > Move Component
Toolbar: Assembly > Move Component

Figure 33 Partial view of the

SmartMates PropertyManager

Figure 34 Faces to be
selected to apply the
smart mate

Figure 35 Components being Figure 36 Concentric symbol appears

dragged to apply the smart mate below the smart mates cursor

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Figure 37 Planar face to

selected to apply Smart
Mate

Figure 38 Coincident symbol appears Figure 39 The Coincident mate

after dragging the component near applied to the assembly by using
another planer face Smart Mates

• Geometry-Based Mates

Figure 40 Edge of the second Figure 41 Component being dragged

component to be selected into the assembly window for applying
the geometry-based mates

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Figure 42 The placement direction Figure 43 Assembly after adding

of the component flipped using the a geometry-based mates
TAB key

• Feature-Based Mates

Figure 44 Component being dragged by selecting the Figure 45 Components assembled

revolved feature using the feature-based mates

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• Pattern-Based Mates

Figure 46 Component being dragged to the assembly document

Figure 47 Preview of the component being Figure 48 Components assembled

assembled using pattern-based mates using pattern-based mates

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• Assembling Components Using the Mate Reference

CommandManager: Features > Reference Geometry flyout > Mate Reference
SolidWorks menus: Insert > Reference Geometry > Mate Reference
Toolbar: Reference Geometry flyout > Mate Reference

Figure 49 The Mate Reference

PropertyManager

 CREATING TOP-DOWN ASSEMBLIES

• Creating Component in the Top-down Assembly
CommandManager: Assembly > Insert Components flyout > New Part
SolidWorks menus: Insert > Component > New Part
Toolbar: Assembly > Insert Components flyout > New Part

 MOVING INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS

• Moving Individual Components by Dragging
• Moving Individual Components using the Move Component
Tool
CommandManager: Assembly > Move Component
Toolbar: Assembly > Move Component
• Along Assembly XYZ • By Delta XYZ
• Along Entity • To XYZ Position

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 ROTATING INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS

• Rotating Individual Components by Dragging
• Rotating Individual Components Using the Rotate Component
Tool
CommandManager: Assembly > Move Component flyout > Rotate Component
Toolbar: Assembly > Move Component flyout > Rotate Component

• Along Entity
• By Delta XYZ

 MOVING AND ROTATING INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS

USING THE TRIAD
• Show Translate XYZ Box
• Show Translate Delta XYZ Box
• Show Rotate Delta XYZ Box
•Align to
• Move to selection
•Align with Component Origin
Figure 50 Triad with rings
• Align with Assembly Origin

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 ASSEMBLY VISUALIZATION

Figure 51 The Assembly Visualization PropertyManager

 Tutorial 1
In this tutorial, you will create all components of the Bench Vice assembly and then
assemble them. The Bench Vice assembly is shown in Figure 52. The dimensions of
various components of the assembly are given in Figures 53 through 56.
(Expected time: 2 hrs 45 min)

Figure 52 Bench Vice assembly

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Figure 53 Orthographic views and dimensions Figure 54 Orthographic views and

of the Vice Body dimensions of various components
of the Bench Vice assembly

Figure 55 Orthographic views and Figure 56 Orthographic views and dimensions of

dimensions of the Vice Jaw various components of the Bench Vice assembly

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1. Create all components as individual part documents and save them at the
location \Documents\SolidWorks\c12\Bench Vice.
2. Open the Vice Body and Vice Jaw part documents and define the mate references
in both part documents, refer to Figures 57 and 58.

Figure 57 Faces to be selected as Figure 58 Faces to be selected as

mate references mate references

3. Create a new assembly document and open all part documents. Place the first
component, which is the Vice Body. Next, drag and drop the Vice Jaw in the assembly
document. It will automatically be assembled with the Vice Jaw because mate references
have already been defined in both the part documents, refer to Figures 59 and 60.

Figure 59 The second component placed in Figure 60 Vice Jaw assembled

the assembly document with the Vice Body

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4. Drag and drop the Jaw Screw in the assembly document and apply mates, refer to
Figures 61 through 67.

Figure 61 Jaw Screw placed in Figure 62 Face to be selected

the assembly

Figure 63 Jaw screw being dragged

Figure 64 The Concentric mate applied Figure 65 Face of the vice jaw
between the Jaw Screw and the Vice Body to be selected

Figure 66 Face of the jaw screw Figure 67 Assembly after applying the
to be selected Coincident mate to the Jaw Screw

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5. Apply mates for constraining the required degrees of freedom, refer to Figures 68
and 69.

Figure 68 Face to be selected Figure 69 Face to be selected

6. Assemble the Clamping Plate, refer to Figures 70 through 73.

Figure 70 Rotated assembly Figure 71 Clamping Plate after

showing the bottom face rotating it

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Figure 72 Faces to be selected Figure 73 Faces to be selected to

to apply mate apply mate

7. Assemble the Oval Fillister by using the feature-based mates, refer to Figure 74.

Figure 74 Assembly after assembling the remaining parts

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8. Similarly, assemble the other components. The rotated view of the assembly, after
assembling the other components is shown in Figure 75.

Figure 75 Rotated view of the final assembly

9. Choose the Save button to save the assembly.

 Tutorial 2
In this tutorial, you will create all components of the Pipe Vice assembly and then
assemble them. The Pipe Vice assembly is shown in Figure 76. The dimensions of
various components of this assembly are given in Figures 77 and 78.
(Expected time: 2 hrs 45 min)

Figure 76 Pipe Vice assembly

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Figure 77 Views and dimensions of the Figure 78 Views and dimensions of the Screw,
Base Handle, Moveable jaw, and Handle screw

1. Create all components as the separate part documents and save them. The part
documents will be saved in \Documents\SolidWorks\c12\Pipe Vice.
2. Place the base at the origin of the assembly.
3. Place the Moveable Jaw and the Screw in the assembly. Apply mates between the
Moveable Jaw and the Screw, refer to Figures 79 through 81.

Figure 79 The Moveable Jaw, Figure 80 The Screw assembled Figure 81 Faces to
Screw, and Base placed in the with the Moveable Jaw be selected
assembly document

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4. Assemble the Screw with the Base.

5. Place the other components in the assembly and apply the required mates to the
assembly, refer to Figure 82.

Figure 82 Final Pipe Vice assembly

6. Choose the Save button to save the assembly.

 Exercise 1
Create the Plummer Block assembly, as shown in Figure 83. The dimensions of the
various components of this assembly are shown in Figures 84 through 86.
(Expected time: 1 hr)

Figure 83 Plummer Block assembly Figure 84 Views and dimensions of the casting

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Figure 85 Views and dimensions of Brasses, Figure 86 Views and dimensions of

Nut, Lock Nut, and Bolt Cap

 Exercise 2
Create all components of the Blower assembly and assemble them. The Blower
assembly is shown in Figure 87. The exploded view of the assembly is given in
Figure 88 for reference. The dimensions of various components of this assembly
are given in Figures 89 through 94. Note that all dimensions are in inches.
(Expected time: 1 hr)

Figure 87 Blower Assembly

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Figure 88 Exploded view of the Blower assembly

Figure 89 Dimensions of the Blower Figure 90 Dimensions of Cover

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Figure 91 Dimensions of the Lower Housing Figure 92 Dimensions of Motor

Figure 93 Dimensions of the Upper Housing Figure 94 Dimensions of Motorshaft

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 Exercise 3
Create all components of the Anti Vibration Mount assembly and assemble them.
Its assembly is shown in Figure 95. The dimensions of various components of this
assembly are given in Figures 96 through 100. Note that all dimensions are in mm.
(Expected time: 1 hr)

Figure 95 Anti Vibration Mount Figure 96 Top and front views of Body

Figure 97 Top and front views of Hex Bolt Figure 98 Top, front, and side views of Yoke plate

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Figure 99 Top and front views of Nut Figure 100 Top and front views of Bushing Rubber

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