How Do You Save an Isolated Part in SolidWorks?

In this tutorial, we will learn how to save an isolated part in SolidWorks. Saving an isolated part can be useful when you want to work on a specific component of your assembly without affecting the rest of the model.

Step 1: Open the Assembly

To begin, open the assembly file that contains the part you want to save separately. You can do this by going to File > Open and selecting the assembly file from your computer.

Step 2: Activate the Part

Once the assembly is open, you need to activate the specific part that you want to save. To do this, simply right-click on the desired part in the assembly tree and select Activate. This will make the selected part active for further operations.

Step 3: Save as a Separate File

Now that you have activated the desired part, it’s time to save it as a separate file. To do this, go to File > Save As. In the dialog box that appears, choose a location on your computer where you want to save the separate file and give it a name.

Note:

If you want to maintain all references and relationships with other components in your assembly, make sure to select “Save all components of an assembly in a single file”.

Step 4: Choose File Type

In SolidWorks, there are different file types available for saving parts. The most common ones are .sldprt (SolidWorks Part), .step (Standard for Exchange of Product Data), and .iges (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification).

Choose the file type that suits your requirements and click on the Save button. Your isolated part will now be saved as a separate file.

Step 5: Close the Isolated Part

After saving the part as a separate file, you can close it by clicking on the X button at the top right corner of the SolidWorks window or by going to File > Close.

Congratulations! You have successfully saved an isolated part in SolidWorks. Now you can work on this part independently without affecting other components in your assembly.

Tips:

  • If you want to edit the isolated part and have it update in the assembly, right-click on the part in the assembly tree and select Edit Part in Context.
  • If you want to re-insert the saved part back into your assembly, simply go to Insert > Component > Existing Part/Assembly and select your saved part file.

I hope this tutorial has been helpful to you. Saving an isolated part can be a great way to streamline your design process and work more efficiently in SolidWorks!