Assemblies: The Tree and Moving Parts
The Model tree lists every part of the assembly and shows what its mates still leave free. This page explains how to read it and how to move parts. Each tool has its own page: Move Component and Rotate Component.
Reading the Tree
The Model tree shows the assembly row, a Mates folder, the Front Plane, Top Plane, Right Plane and Origin, an Exploded Views folder, then your components. Patterns are listed after the components. A mark in front of a component name tells you its state:
| Mark | Meaning |
|---|---|
| (f) | Fixed |
| (-) | Under defined, it can still move |
| none | Fully defined |
| (+) | Over defined |
| (?) | Not solved |
The assembly row also shows "N under defined" when mates exist. Click it to open Diagnose Mates. The small eye on a row hides or shows that component. A component row can also read "free: 1 rotation" or "free: 2 translations, 1 rotation" to say what is left.
Step by Step: Move a Part
- Click the component in the view or in the Model tree.
- If it shows (f), right-click it and choose Assembly tools, Float. A fixed part will not move.
- Left-drag a floating part to move it, or right-drag to turn it. Ctrl-drag drops a copy.
- For exact amounts, open Move Component or Rotate Component from the Assembly tab or the component menu and type the numbers.
- Press Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+Y to redo moves, turns, copies, inserts and deletes.
Step by Step: Fix, Hide or Delete a Part
- Right-click the component in the tree.
- Choose Fix or Float to lock it in place or free it, Hide or Show to switch it on or off (the small eye does the same), or Delete (also the Del key).
- Show All Components is on the assembly row menu.
The Component Menu
Right-click a component for: Open Model, Hide or Show, Isolate, Change Transparency (or Remove Transparency) and Delete at the top, and under Assembly tools: Fix or Float, Do Not Section This Component, Form New Subassembly..., Mate..., the two pattern items, Mirror Components..., Assembly Cut..., Replace Components..., Edit Part, Move Component, Rotate Component and Move with Triad. See Assemblies: The Component Menu.
Moving and Turning
- Move modes: Free Drag, Along Assembly XYZ, Along Entity, By Delta XYZ, To XYZ Position.
- Rotate modes: Free Drag, About Entity, By Delta XYZ.
- Choose Move with Triad from the component menu to show a triad on the part. Drag its arrows, squares and rings. Right-click the center of the triad for Move to XYZ..., Move by Delta XYZ..., Align with Component Origin and Align with Assembly Origin. Right-click a ring for Rotate 90 and Rotate 180.
A fixed part will not move. The message reads "<name> is fixed. Right-click it and choose Float to move it." While the assembly is exploded, moving is refused until you collapse it.
Collision Detection
The Options part of the Move Component and Rotate Component windows has Standard drag or Collision Detection. For collision, pick All components or These components, then tick any of Dragged part only, Stop at collision, Highlight faces and Sound.
Tick Dynamic Clearance to see the smallest distance between the dragged part and the components you choose. Tick Stop at and type a distance so the part halts before it gets that close.
Section View
When you slice the model, right-click a component and choose Assembly tools, Do Not Section This Component to keep it whole while the rest is cut. Section This Component undoes that.
Tips
- Mates decide what can move. A part with a Coincident mate to a fixed base slides only along that face until more mates are added.
- Use Isolate to look at one part, and Show All Components to bring the rest back.
Common Problems
- A part will not move. It is fixed (f), or fully defined by its mates. Float it, or suppress a mate.
- Moving is refused. The assembly is exploded. Collapse it first.