Inserting the First Part into the Assembly

  1. Download and extract the sample files for this tutorial:
    1. Click here to download assemblymates.zip to your Downloads folder.
    2. Browse to the Downloads folder and extract assemblymates.zip to a convenient location.
      For more information on downloading and managing sample files, see Sample Files.
      For example, to organize your tutorial sample files, create a folder in your Documents folder named tutorial_files. Then extract into that folder to create a subfolder named assemblymates that contains the SOLIDWORKS part files you need.
  2. Browse to the location where you placed the assemblymates folder and open knee.SLDPRT.
  3. Click File > Make Assembly from Part.
    The Begin Assembly PropertyManager opens in a new assembly document.
  4. If the origin is not visible in the graphics area, click View > Hide/Show > Origins to display it.
  5. In the PropertyManager, under Options, select Graphics preview.
  6. Move the pointer over the origin.
    The pointer changes to , indicating the inference to the assembly origin.

  7. Click to place the knee.
    When you place a component this way, the component origin is located coincident with the assembly origin, and the planes of the part and the assembly are aligned. This procedure, while not required, helps you establish an initial orientation for the assembly. You can create this type of inference with any component as you add it to the assembly.