ANSYS Discovery SpaceClaim

Working with components

Components are shown in the Structure tree on the Structure panel. All the objects in the Structure treeDisplay in the Structure panel that shows you each of the objects in your design. You can expand or collapse the nodes of the tree to view the objects. You can rename objects, create, modify, replace, and delete objects, as well as work with components. are contained within a top-level design component (Design1 in the figure below.) This top-level component is created automatically when you first save your design.

You must create any other components yourself. Once you have created a component, the icon changes to show that the top-level design is now an assembly.

To create a component

You can do any of the following in the Structure tree to create a component:

• Right-click any component and select New ComponentObjectAnything recognizable by the tools. 3D objects include vertices, edges, faces, surfaces, solids, layouts, planes, axes, and origins. 2D objects include points and lines. in a design, including the top-level design component. Each component consists of any number of objects, such as solids and surfaces, and can contain sub-components. You can think of a component as a "part." Components can be saved as a separate file. An external component is another design inserted as a component of your design. Making the component internal prevents changes from being made to the external component file. You can also create an external component by saving a component as a separate file. See Lightweight components, AssemblyHierarchy of components and subcomponents showing relationship within a design, as shown in the Structure tree. In manufacturing, a unit fitted together from manufactured parts. See Assembly tool, Component from the context menu to create a new component within that component.
• Right-click an object and select MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry. to New Component to create a component within the active component and move the object into it. If the object has a custom name, the new component will have the same name.
• Ctrl+click multiple objects, then right-click and select Move Each to New Components from the context menu to create a new component for each object within the active component and move the objects into those components. If the object has a custom name, the new component will have the same name.

An annotation plane with dimensions cannot be moved to a component because the references would be lost.

To activate a component

Activating a component allows you to work with the objects within that component.

Right-click the component the Structure tree and select Activate Component from the context menu.

If the component is lightweight, it is also loaded. As you design, any new objects you create are created within this component.

You can right-click on an object in the design window and select Load Component.

To cut, copy, and paste a component

Cut:

1. Select the component.

2. Click the Cut tool in the Clipboard group on the Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. tab or press Ctrl+X.

Copy:

1. Select the component.

2. Click the Copy tool in the Clipboard group on the Design tab or press Ctrl+C.

Paste:

1. Copy or Cut a component.

2. Activate the component into which you want to Paste the component.

   • Activating the top-level design will create a first-level component.

   • Activating a component with no sub-components creates a sub-assembly of the active component and the pasted component.

   • Activating a component with sub-components adds the pasted component to the first level of the sub-assembly.

3. Click the Paste tool in the Clipboard group on the Design tab or press Ctrl+V.

You can also use Ctrl+drag to Copy and Paste:

1. Select a component in the Structure Tree.

2. Ctrl+drag the component over other components in the tree.

3. When the destination component highlights, release the mouse and Ctrl key.

Copied components are Dependent by default. There are two ways to make copied components Independent.

• To paste the component, use RMB > Paste > Independent.
• After pasting, select the component and use RMB>Source>Make Independent.

To mirror a component

1. Click on the MirrorAssociative relationship between two faces or planes mirrored about a centerline plane or planar face. The second object is a copy of the original; if the geometry of the original is changed, the mirrored copy is also updated. Use the Mirror tool to designate a face or plane as a mirror, or to create a mirror plane between two faces. tool in the Design tab Insert group.
2. Select a mirror plane.
3. Select the component to mirror.

To sort objects within a component

Right-click the component and select Sort > Sort A to Z or Sort >Z to A from the context menu.

To rename a component

Components have a part name and a component name. The part name is displayed in the Structure tree next to the component icon. The component name is shown in parentheses next to the part name.

To change a component's part name, right-click the component in the Structure tree and select Rename from the context menu.

To change a component's component name, select the component in the Structure tree and modify the Component Name value in the Name section of the Properties panelArea of the user interface that displays editable details about the selected object(s). This panel is initially displayed on the lower left side of the screen, but can be moved..

To change the top-level component's display name, select the top-level component in the Structure tree and modify the Display Name in the Name section of the Properties panel.

To delete a component

Right-click a component and select Delete Empty Components from the context menu to delete any empty subcomponents within the component. If the component itself is empty, or contains only empty sub components, it is also deleted.