Let’s begin by exploring what an assembly actually is and why it’s such an important part of the design process.
What Is a SOLIDWORKS Assembly?
In SOLIDWORKS, an assembly is a file that brings together multiple individual parts into a complete product. Think of something like a bicycle. It’s made up of a frame, wheels, pedals, handlebars, and a seat. Each of these items is a separate part, but when you combine them, you create a fully functioning product.
Assemblies are important because they allow you to simulate how these parts fit together and interact with one another. You can check for clearances, test for potential interference, and visualise how components move in relation to each other. It’s all about making sure your product works as intended before you build anything in the real world.
It’s helpful to understand that part files and assembly files serve different roles. Part files represent individual components, while an assembly file is a kind of container that brings those parts together. The assembly doesn’t modify the parts themselves but instead defines how they fit and function together.
Navigating the Assembly Interface
When you open or create an assembly file in SOLIDWORKS, the interface adapts slightly. You’ll see an Assembly tab appear, which contains tools specifically designed for inserting components, applying mates, and managing your assembly structure.
The FeatureManager Design Tree, which you may already be familiar with from working on part files, now shows a list of inserted components along with any mates or features applied to them. This tree helps you keep track of everything in your assembly. And in the middle of the screen, the graphics area remains your workspace where all the visual action happens.
Understanding where to find these tools and how to use them is key to building effective assemblies.
Creating a New Assembly
To create a new assembly, go to the File menu, click on New, and then choose Assembly. SOLIDWORKS will open a blank assembly environment, ready for you to begin inserting parts.
Once your assembly is open, SOLIDWORKS may display a panel on the left titled "Begin Assembly" and also open a file browser window. These features are controlled by your user settings, and you can choose whether or not they appear automatically. In this example, we’ll assume that both options are enabled, meaning the dialog and browser are both visible.
If you already have part files open, the assembly tool may suggest inserting one of them directly. If not, you can browse your computer to locate and insert the part you want. For demonstration purposes, let’s assume we’re adding a simple cylinder.
Placing the First Component
The way you insert your first component into the assembly matters more than you might think. Ideally, the first component should be a part that doesn’t need to move. In our bicycle example, this would be the frame. It’s the foundation for everything else and stays in a fixed position while other components move around it.
When placing your first component, you have two main options. You can click somewhere in the graphics area to place it manually, or you can click the green tick button in the PropertyManager to confirm placement. The recommended approach is to use the green tick.
Why? Because clicking the green tick fixes the component at the origin and aligns its planes with the assembly’s default planes. This makes your entire assembly easier to manage and keeps everything properly aligned. Clicking in the viewport, on the other hand, may result in the part being fixed in an offset position, which can cause problems later on.
Understanding Component Instances
When you insert a part into an assembly, you’re not creating a copy. You’re inserting a live instance of that part. This means that any changes made to the original part file will automatically update in the assembly wherever that part is used.
This is incredibly efficient because you can use the same part across multiple assemblies without duplicating files. However, it also means you need to be careful. If you edit a part file that is used in several assemblies, every one of those assemblies will reflect the change. So, if you need a unique version of a part for a specific project, it’s a good idea to save a new copy before making edits.
Wrapping Up
At this stage, you’ve covered the essential first steps in working with SOLIDWORKS assemblies. You understand what an assembly is, how the interface works, and how to insert and correctly place your first component. These basics form the foundation for every assembly you’ll build in SOLIDWORKS.
In the next post, we’ll take things further by exploring mates, the powerful tools that define how components connect and move within an assembly. Mates are what allow your digital models to behave like real mechanical products, and learning to use them properly will unlock a whole new level of design control.
Make sure to check out the next article or video in this series to continue building your skills with SOLIDWORKS assemblies.
