Blocks in Parts and Assemblies

You create blocks from single or multiple sketch entities. Blocks enable you to:

• Create layout sketches using a minimum of dimensions and relations.

• Freeze a subset of entities in a sketch to manipulate as a single entity.

• Manage complex sketches.

• Edit all instances of a block simultaneously.

You can also use blocks in drawings to save drawing items such as standard notes, label positions, etc.

Applications

Include:

Tools

• Make Block . Convert sketch entities to blocks. A Block is identified by under the relevant sketch in the FeatureManager design tree.

• Edit Block :

• Add or remove sketch entities.

• Change dimensions and relations.

You can add relations between sketch entities within the same block, but not to external sketch entities.

• Insert Block . Create multiple instances of existing blocks or browse for blocks to retrieve blocks in parts, assemblies, or blocks.

• Add/Remove . Adds or removes sketch entities from a block.

• Rebuild . Rebuilds and updates parent sketches by the block.

• Save Block . Saves and adds an .sldblk extension.

• Explode Block . Dissolves the block.

 Exploding one instance of a block only affects that instance of the block.

• Belt/Chain . Creates continuous tangent lines and arcs to represent the belt or chain path.

Capabilities

• Create blocks using 2D sketches or 2D sketches on 3D sketch planes.

• Combine imported 2D blocks with 2D sketches created on 3D sketch planes.

• Import blocks saved in 2D into a 3D sketch.

• Pre- or post-select entities to include in the block.

• Select blocks to view existing relations, add new relations, etc.

• Mirror, scale, or pattern blocks.

• Add a Traction relation to create relative rotation constraints between blocks.

• Create nested blocks (blocks within blocks).

• Convert or offset entities from within the same block.

• Convert entities from another block.

If you use another block with convert entities, the resulting geometry is not associative to the original geometry.

• Sketch new entities while editing a block to create relations between the new sketch entities and the block you are editing.

• Copy and paste between sketches and drawings.