Display States versus Configurations in Assemblies
Use display
states to show components differently within a model. The components
are the same from one display state to another. Only the way the components
are displayed changes. For example, you might create display states to:
Hide some components while you work on others.
Display several related components in the same
color.
Show the model at various stages of assembly,
for a presentation or a technical manual.
Use configurations
to create different versions of a model. Components are different from
one configuration to another. For example, you might create:
One configuration that uses metal components and
another that uses plastic ones.
Multiple configurations that use different sizes
of similar components.
Configurations with the assembly's components
in different positions.
A simplified configuration of a model for use
in analysis.
In large
assemblies, one configuration with fully resolved components and another
with lightweight
components.
Switching from one configuration to another
can slow performance, especially in large assemblies, because the software
is essentially loading a different model. Switching from one display state
to another is relatively fast because the model data is already loaded.
Examples
Display States
Suppose you are working on the assembly shown below. As you edit different
areas of the model, you want to hide unrelated components and show some
related components in different ways to make it easier to see the area
you are editing. You use one configuration of the model, but display the
components differently in each display state. You can quickly change from
one display state to another as you edit different areas of the model.
|
|
|
Display State: Full Assembly
Shows the entire model. |
Display State: Motor Bracket
Hides some components and makes others transparent or HLR (Hidden Lines
Removed) to facilitate editing the motor bracket. |
Display State: Slide Plate
Hides different components and makes others
transparent to facilitate editing the slide plate. |
Configurations
For the following assembly, suppose your company sells three versions:
With a large motor
With a small motor
Without a motor
You create three configurations of the model, to reflect the different
hardware contained in each version. The bill of materials for each configuration
is different.
|
|
|
Configuration: Large Motor
|
Configuration: Small Motor
Uses a smaller motor component and associated
hardware. |
Configuration: No Motor
The motor and associated hardware are suppressed. |