Verifying assemblies

The following activities are associated with verifying assemblies:

• Use the Drag Component command (Home tab→Modify group→Drag Component) to analyze physical motion and detect collisions between parts in an assembly. This command provides the functionality to move parts and subassemblies through their full range of unrestricted movement based on the applied assembly relationships.

  The Drag Component - Options button on the Drag Component command bar displays the Analyze Options dialog to define the analysis options to use. To reduce the performance impact when working with large assemblies, limit the analysis to as few parts as possible. The Collision Options settings are used specify whether only the parts that contact the selected part are analyzed or that all parts that move in tandem with the selected part are analyzed.

• Using the Check Interference command (Inspect tab→Evaluate group→Check Interference) and its associated options and dialogs, the user can see whether two selections share the same space by selecting one part and checking it against another, or by selecting one or more parts and checking them against themselves, against a second set of selected parts, or against all of the parts in the assembly. The associated Interference Options dialog box can also be used to generate an interference report of user-defined content.

• Use the Move Components command (Home tab→Modify group→Drag Component→Move Component) to modify the assembly by moving the selected parts and components.

• When constructing parts and assemblies, critical design parameters can be tracked. For example, when designing a shield or shroud that encloses a rotating part, a fixed amount of clearance for maintenance and operational purposes has to be maintained. In this case use the Sensors tab (View tab→Show group→Panes→Sensors) to define and keep track of design parameters for selected parts and assemblies. The following types of sensors can be configured:

  • Minimum distance sensors

  • General variable sensors

  • Sheet metal sensors

  • Surface area sensors

  • Custom sensors

  In addition to being able to create sensors, Violation alarms and Warning alarms can be configured. See Sensors, Sensor Assistant, and Responding to sensor alarms for additional information.