Mechanical APDL Basic Analysis Guide

the function you can perform with them. See the appropriate command documentation for specific
capabilities and limitations.

Note

Using the Component Manager toolbar buttons (except Select Component/Assembly and

Unselect Component/Assembly will perform the specified operation on the highlighted

component(s), but the select status of the entities in the database will not be affected.

9.3.1. Creating Components

Use the CM command (Utility Menu> Select> Comp/Assembly> Create Component) to define a
component. For example, you can select all elements that constitute the rotor portion of a motor
model and group them into a component:

ESEL,,MAT,,2! Select rotor elements (material 2)

CM,ROTOR,ELEM! Define component ROTOR using all selected elements

The Command Reference describes the ESEL and CM commands in more detail.

An assembly may consist of any number of components and other assemblies. Use the CMGRP command
(Utility Menu> Select> Comp/Assembly> Create Assembly) to define an assembly. For example, you
can group the components ROTOR and WINDINGS (both of which must have been previously defined)
into an assembly ROTORASM:

NSEL,...! Select appropriate nodes and

ESLN! elements that constitute the windings

CM,WINDINGS,ELEM! Define component WINDINGS

CMGRP,ROTORASM,WINDINGS,ROTOR! Define the assembly ROTORASM

The Command Reference describes the NSEL,ESLN,CM, and CMGRP commands in more detail.

9.3.2. Nesting Assemblies

You can also nest assemblies up to five levels deep. For example, you can build an assembly named
MOTOR from other assemblies and components as shown in the schematic below.

Release 15.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information

Grouping Geometry Items into Components and Assemblies