Lenny's SolidWorks Resources

This is a relatively easy way to copy groups of components between assemblies. When using this method, you will loose all mating between copied and non-copied components to when you bring them into the destination assembly. Test this trick a few times with small groups of components to get familiar with the concept and the procedures. Tip added 02/11/2006

It is safest to begin without any documents loaded in SolidWorks.
Open “Source” assembly.
Select all components in the feature manager that are to be copied.
Right click on one of the selected components in the feature manager and select “Form new sub-assembly here”.
If prompted, select assembly template.
Set “Transfer” assembly file and location on disk.
Open the “Transfer” file and save it. NOTE: Failure to do this step will produce a blank “Transfer” assembly file on the disk.
Close the “Source” assembly. NOTE: If you save the “Source” assembly, the components copied out will no longer exist in your saved “Source” file. If you intend on moving the components, then you can save the “Source” file.
Open the “Destination” assembly.
Insert the “Transfer” assembly and create the necessary mates.
Right click on the “Transfer” assembly in the feature manager and select “Dissolve Sub-assembly”.
Save the “Destination” assembly.
Close all documents.

COPYING GROUPS OF COMPONENTS BETWEEN ASSEMBLIES - METHOD 2

This is and effective way to copy groups of components between assemblies. In many cases, this method will retain mating between copied and non-copied components as long as the source and destination assemblies are similar. There may be a few mate errors when bringing the components into the destination assembly, but this is due to differences in the non-copied components in each assembly. Test this trick a few times with small groups of components to get familiar with the concept and the procedures. Tip added 02/11/2006

It is safest to begin without any documents loaded in SolidWorks.
Create new (blank) assembly. This is the “Transfer” assembly.
Insert “Source” assembly.
Select and move components from the “Source” sub-assembly to the “Transfer” assembly.
In the “Transfer” assembly, right click on the “Source” assembly in the feature tree and select “Replace components”.
Select “Destination” assembly and proceed with replacement.
When prompted, DO NOT save the “Source” assembly. NOTE: If you save the “Source” assembly, the components copied out will no longer exist in your saved “Source” file. If you intend on moving the components, then you can save the “Source” file.
Select and move components from the “Transfer” assembly to the “Destination” sub-assembly.
Open the “Destination” assembly and save the assembly.
Close all documents. There is no need to save the “Transfer” assembly.