Can You Save an Assembly as a Part in SolidWorks?

When working with SolidWorks, it is not uncommon to come across situations where you may want to save an assembly as a part. This can be particularly useful when you need to simplify a complex assembly or create a single component from multiple parts. In this article, we will explore whether it is possible to save an assembly as a part in SolidWorks and how to do it.

Can You Save an Assembly as a Part?

The short answer is yes, you can save an assembly as a part in SolidWorks. This feature is known as the “Save As Part” command, and it allows you to convert your assembly into a single part file while preserving the geometry and relationships of the components.

How to Save an Assembly as a Part

To save an assembly as a part in SolidWorks, follow these simple steps:

Open the Assembly: Start by opening the assembly file that you want to convert into a part.
Select “Save As Part”: Once the assembly is open, go to the “File” menu and select “Save As.” In the “Save As” dialog box, choose the location where you want to save the new part file.
Choose Options: After selecting the location for saving the new file, click on the options button next to the file name field.
In this dialog box, make sure that “All components” is selected under “Include referenced components.” This ensures that all parts and subassemblies are included in the saved part file.
Specify Configuration: If your original assembly has multiple configurations, you can choose which configuration to save as a part by selecting it from the “Configuration Name” drop-down list.
Click “Save”: Finally, click on the “Save” button to save the assembly as a part. SolidWorks will create a new part file with the same name as the original assembly.

By following these steps, you can convert your assembly into a single part file. The saved part file will contain all the geometry, features, and relationships of the original assembly.

Benefits of Saving an Assembly as a Part

Saving an assembly as a part offers several benefits:

Simplified Geometry: Converting an assembly into a single part simplifies the geometry and reduces file size. This can be useful when working with large assemblies or when sharing files with collaborators.
Easier Management: By saving an assembly as a part, you can consolidate multiple components into one file, making it easier to manage and organize your design data.
Independent File: Once saved as a part, the new file becomes independent of the original assembly. This means that any changes made to the assembly will not affect the saved part file.

Considerations When Saving an Assembly as a Part

While saving an assembly as a part can be advantageous in many cases, there are some considerations to keep in mind:

No Motion Study or Animation: When saving an assembly as a part, any motion studies or animations present in the original assembly will be lost. The resulting part file will only contain static geometry.
No Component Relations: Component relations, such as mates and assembly features, will not be maintained in the saved part file. If you need to preserve these relationships, consider using other methods like derived parts or configurations.

In Conclusion

Saving an assembly as a part in SolidWorks can be a useful technique to simplify complex assemblies or consolidate multiple components into a single file. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can convert your assembly into a part while preserving the geometry and relationships of the components. Just remember to consider any limitations and plan accordingly to ensure that the resulting part file meets your design requirements.