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Simplify a Assembly into a part

gnewman
1-Newbie

Simplify a Assembly into a part

Hello All,

Just wondering how people go about creating simplified models of sub assemblies.

The specific thing I am working on is an assembly with several different bearings. While I want to keep the bearings in the assembly and it is nice they look like bearings when sectioned etc I would like to to simplify them. By simplify I mean ideally turn them into a single part. The bearings currently are as downloaded from the bearing supplier and each one has a dozen different parts. For this project I want to keep everything in a single folder and having lots of bearing parts is making it more difficult to see the other parts. Also I have to email assemblies and it would be better if the bearing was then just one part, instead of several.

I could remodel the, but this seems time consuming and unnecessary.

I also could Shrinkwrap them, but this creates external surfaces only.  

Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thank you.

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
cgorni
16-Pearl
(To:gnewman)

To close this community thread on the ability to Simplify a Assembly into a part.

 

Summary of the proposed solutions, also detailed in article CS29678 :

  • Convert the assembly to a Solid Shrinkwrap
    • Use the File > Save as > Save a Copy command to save the assembly with the Type Shrinkwrap
    • Then select the Merged Solid option.
    • You can increase the Quality and also uncheck the box to Fill holes if you want to keep some more details.

cgorni_0-1635160277040.png

 

Advanced Assembly Extension(AAX) or Pro/ASSEMBLY module or Assembly Performance Extension(APX) is required to save model as shrinkwrap model

See how to verify the modules included in your Creo license in article CS165589, and review Creo Design packages in CS298294

  • You can also export the assembly to another file format like STEP / IGES or Neutral and import it back as a part
    • Use the File > Save as > Save a Copy command to save the assembly with the Type of your choice
    • Then use the File > Open command to browse All Files Type to the retrieve the new created file
    • If selecting STEP file format you may need to set the hidden config.pro option intf3d_in_as_part to yes to avoid misplaced components, see article CS10021
  • Note that starting with Creo 8.0 Inseparable Assemblies with Embedded Components have been introduced

View solution in original post

19 REPLIES 19
StephenW
23-Emerald II
(To:gnewman)

Shrinkwrap is used to create solid geometry and depending on the quality level you choose, the part can be identical, internally and externally, to the original model. It is definitely the easiest method. If the option isnt' available, there is some problem with the original model such as it contains surface models or has some sort of geometry that can't be converted.

shrink.jpg

Other options are external merge/inheritance (may be an option not available to all), merge (creates a reference to the original model and a merge part in the original model) and using a step export and re-import with the option to make as a single part (there is an option to do this but it eludes my memory at the moment).

Hello Stephen, thanks for the quick response. Using shrinkwrap it is always fills the internals for me. I am selecting the Merged Solid option already.

I have tried putting the level to 10, and it makes no difference. Unless I unclick all the special handling boxes it justs gives me a single cylinder with rounded edges (So loses all the shield and race details.

Thanks

StephenW
23-Emerald II
(To:gnewman)

Can you upload the vendor bearing?

The particular file I am working on currently is attached. But I am also interested more generally in what people do with their own sub assemblies.

Thanks for any help 

dgschaefer
21-Topaz II
(To:gnewman)

I exported your assy as a STEP and re-imported as a prt.  Creo will recogize it as an assy, you'll need to check part in the import dialog:

Capture.JPG

The only hiccup was that it only brought in one of the balls, instead of all 16.  I've attached my part here.

--
Doug Schaefer | Experienced Mechanical Design Engineer
LinkedIn
TomU
23-Emerald IV
(To:dgschaefer)

The problem with importing step file assemblies as parts is Creo will simply "pile" all the different parts on top of each other (based on the coordinate system).  To fix this, set intf3d_in_as_part to yes in your config.pro file before attempting to import the file.  Now assemblies can be brought in as single parts but still maintain the proper spatial relationships between the different components.

dgschaefer
21-Topaz II
(To:TomU)

Interesting.  Unfortunately, that option also make importing as a part the default, which I definately don't want/

Also, when importing with that option set, Creo created a bunch of extra layers, with the solid geom on every layer.  But the balls were all there.  Without it set, no extra layers but only the two balls.  I tried in both Creo 2 & Creo 3 with the same results.

--
Doug Schaefer | Experienced Mechanical Design Engineer
LinkedIn
TomU
23-Emerald IV
(To:dgschaefer)

Unfortunately, that option also make importing as a part the default, which I definately don't want/

It does default to part, but you can still pick assembly and it will come in just like it used to without the option set.  Just one click. 

JLG
1-Newbie
1-Newbie
(To:dgschaefer)

Or you could just change it for your current session.  If you need to switch this option often, you can add it to your Favorites in the Options dialog.  It will show a check box that you can toggle for your session.

this worked perfectly for me on Creo 3.0...thanks again...

although not that option doesn't show up when you search so i had to manually input it.

TomU
23-Emerald IV
(To:dgschaefer)

Here is the bearing following your process but with that config option enabled.  (Creo 3.0)

Juanneumann72
14-Alexandrite
(To:TomU)

internal features are still visible.

StephenW
23-Emerald II
(To:gnewman)

It's CREO 3 models. Unfortunately I am unable to read Creo 3 models at this time. I was supposed to already be testing it but haven't taken the time to install it yet.

StephenW
23-Emerald II
(To:StephenW)

I used this thread a driver to load up CREO 3....It was awesome except I corrupted my local PDMLINK workspace...I discovered how big a pain it is to recover non-uploaded data...fun fun fun

Let the testing begin.

I use the method of merging bodies into a single part.

First of all remember that merged bodies will join and you will not have all the crosshatching options that assemblies give you.

In the bearing assembly, designate a part, say the outer race, as the active part.  Now go to GetData and select merge.  You can then merge a solid into the part you have active.  You have to do this one at a time, but it does work.  A little playing with it and you can also make sure you clean up the merging bodies so not too much information is retained.

This is not foolproof.  Some merge operations fail.  Not much can be done about this other than to make sure appropriate clearances are maintained.

RaphMORIN
13-Aquamarine
(To:gnewman)

Hello Gavin,

I've already done this because one of my customers was sending me electronic boards assemblies made of hundreds of parts and it was really putting down my computer.

I found a method to convert those assemblies into a single part.

I export the assembly as an iges file using the config shown bellow, then open the iges file as a part. You'll find attached the bearing made in a single part using this method.

Hello All,

I am trying to this again and my now default way of doing it, by exporting as an Iges keep crashing so instead I tried changing my option in Config .pro. (As suggested by Tom Uminn) But I don't appear to have the "intf3d_in_as_part " setting or anything that looks similar. Anyone got any idea if it has been renamed or moved? 

I can't post the file I am trying to simplify this time.

TomU
23-Emerald IV
(To:gnewman)

It's a hidden option.  Just type it in.

cgorni
16-Pearl
(To:gnewman)

To close this community thread on the ability to Simplify a Assembly into a part.

 

Summary of the proposed solutions, also detailed in article CS29678 :

  • Convert the assembly to a Solid Shrinkwrap
    • Use the File > Save as > Save a Copy command to save the assembly with the Type Shrinkwrap
    • Then select the Merged Solid option.
    • You can increase the Quality and also uncheck the box to Fill holes if you want to keep some more details.

cgorni_0-1635160277040.png

 

Advanced Assembly Extension(AAX) or Pro/ASSEMBLY module or Assembly Performance Extension(APX) is required to save model as shrinkwrap model

See how to verify the modules included in your Creo license in article CS165589, and review Creo Design packages in CS298294

  • You can also export the assembly to another file format like STEP / IGES or Neutral and import it back as a part
    • Use the File > Save as > Save a Copy command to save the assembly with the Type of your choice
    • Then use the File > Open command to browse All Files Type to the retrieve the new created file
    • If selecting STEP file format you may need to set the hidden config.pro option intf3d_in_as_part to yes to avoid misplaced components, see article CS10021
  • Note that starting with Creo 8.0 Inseparable Assemblies with Embedded Components have been introduced
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