Chapter 14: Assembly Configurations and Display States
Both tools are useful for managing assembly configurations. Design tables offer the most complete
control, but also have some drawbacks associated with being tied to Microsoft Excel. Both Modify
Configurations and the Configuration Publisher are internal to SolidWorks, regardless of the level
of the software you have purchased, so if you use one of them, you can be sure that whomever you
send data to will be able to access all the functionalityAssembly configuration dos and don’ts
Assembly configurations have some potential pitfalls that you can avoid if you pay attention to
some of these dos and don’ts.l Avoid using Delete as an editing option when working with configurations. Delete is for-
ever and removes all configs.
l Avoid the use of in-context relations to size parts when you are also using configurations
to size parts. A non-configured part driven by a configured part only causes confusion.
l Avoid using configurations to represent document control type revisions. I have seen peo-
ple attempt to do this, but in the end, it limits the kinds of edits you can make to your
parts and assemblies, and it is far too easy to make a mistake that wipes out all your dili-
gence. In the end, this is not a viable technique.
l If you are working with manually created configs, then you should create a new configura-
tion and activate it before making the changes. Otherwise, you will end up trying to set
the original config back to the way it was.l (^) Remember to select the This Configuration Only option for changed dimensions instead
of leaving it at the default All Configurations setting.
Creating Exploded Views
Exploded views enable you to display an assembly taken apart so that you can see all the parts.
They are great for assembly documentation, assembly instructions, and for visualizing assemblies
with concealed internal parts.
I have included exploded views in the assembly configurations chapter because, like Display States,
exploded views are found in the ConfigurationManager under the configuration. Each config can
have only a single exploded view with multiple steps, and you can copy exploded views between
configurations.
When you are creating the exploded view of the top-level assembly, and a subassembly already has
one, you can include the subassembly’s exploded view in the top-level exploded view. While you
are creating exploded views, mates are temporarily suspended.