Maxime CASIER Converting an assembly into a single part in SOLIDWORKS
During the design phase, it may be useful to convert a SOLIDWORKS assembly into a single part. This simplification will facilitate a number of operations, such as carrying out certain advanced simulation studies, designing large assemblies, sending the CAD to your customer or subcontractor, etc. This conversion action will also be useful for your library components, as it is generally not necessary to keep a detailed tree structure for them. We'll look at how to convert an assembly simply with SOLIDWORKS, and review the various options available for this action.
Convert an assembly: save the assembly as a single part
In fact, only one step is required to convert an assembly into a single part. Once the assembly has been opened in SOLIDWORKS, simply go to the "File / Save as..." menu. Then, in the "Type" drop-down list, select the "Part (*.prt; *.sldprt)" format, then save.
The result is a multi-body part file.
a. Option 1 "External faces
Secondly, when saving, 3 options allow you to customize the result obtained.
If the "External faces" option is ticked, SOLIDWORKS will only save the external faces of the model as surface bodies. In other words, it will be completely hollow on the inside. Please note that surface bodies are often more cumbersome to manage and can cause slowdowns.
b. Option 2 "External components
If the "External components" option is ticked, SOLIDWORKS will only save visible components, thus forming the outer envelope of the assembly in volume bodies.
With this option, however, it is not possible to select retained or deleted components. In fact, SOLIDWORKS will make this choice based on their position, size, etc. The aim is to keep only those components that are visible. The aim is to keep only the main components.
c. Option 3 "All components
If the "All components" option is ticked, SOLIDWORKS will save all components in the assembly as solid bodies.
In fact, this is the most complete mode, with an interesting feature: hidden or deleted components will not be saved. This is a good way of selecting the components you wish to keep in the part.
Finally, to take things a step further, you can use the "Combine" function to merge all created bodies into a single one.
In conclusion
All in all, converting a SOLIDWORKS assembly to part format is a quick and easy way to reduce file size. This action allows you to manage fewer files, and delete what is superfluous. What's more, the gain in performance means you can tackle complex assemblies or advanced simulation studies with greater peace of mind.