Using Assemblies for Production Work

If you do many similar parts from time to time, re-using an existing machining assembly with a set of toolpaths can save you a lot of time.

To create your initial machining assembly, follow these steps:

  1. Open the part file which you want to machine.
  2. From the File menu choose Make Assembly from Part.
  3. Click green tick at the top of the property manager.
  4. Save the new assembly.
  5. Optional: Add stock, clamp and fixture components to the assembly, adding mates as necessary.
  6. Set up the tool table to correspond with your machine.
  7. Add a set of toolpaths to the assembly, sufficient to machine the part.

The following screenshot shows a simple example of a fully configured machining assembly:


Machining assembly with one version of a file

Now, the next time you are to machine a part similar to this, you can use the assembly as a template:

  1. Open your "template" assembly.
  2. Right click on the old part in the feature tree.
  3. Choose Replace Components (to see this option, you may have to expand the menu by pressing the arrow at the bottom of the menu).
  4. Press Browse... and locate the new part (Part2.SLDPRT) in this example.
  5. Use Save As to save a new copy of the assembly with a different name (so you don't change the original).

If you get mating errors, it's fairly quick to use the Replace Mate Entities feature to it up to date.

Depending on how similar the geometry of your parts are, you may have to re-select some geometry and add-or remove toolpath operations. In many cases, however, simply regenerating the toolpaths is sufficient:


The machining assembly after the toolpaths have been regenerated on a different part