A multi-body part is a top down workflow which allows you to create and position multiple solid bodies within a single part document. This technique is especially useful for designing plastic parts. A top down workflow eliminates the need for complex file relationships and projecting edges between parts. You can control visibility, assign a different appearance, and calculate the mass for each body. When you complete the design, you can export the individual solid bodies as part files directly into an assembly.
To create a multi-body part:
- Create a model representing the exterior shape of the finished part or, import a finished surface set and use stitch to create a solid model.
- Add features, such as fillets and shell, as required to complete the exterior of the part.
- Use work planes, 2D sketch geometry, or surfaces to split the part into separate bodies.
- Use sketch-based modeling commands such as Extrude and Revolve to create new bodies in place.
- Use Derive to insert components into the part file as bodies.
- Use Move Bodies to position the bodies in the part file.
- Use Combine to perform a Join, Cut, or Intersect operation between solids.
- Add additional features such as holes, grills, lips, and bosses to each body as required.
- Use the Make Part or Make Component command to save the individual solids as derived part files linked to the master part design.
Note: Different bodies can share the same feature such as a fillet or a hole.