SolidWorks 2010 Bible

CHAPTER

Modeling

Multi-bodies

IN THIS CHAPTER

Creating models responsibly

Leveraging multi-body

techniques

Learning how to use

multi-bodies

Understanding how to manage

bodies

Working with multi-body data

Working with multi-bodies

tutorial

Y

ou get multiple bodies in SolidWorks when you have simultaneous
separate enclosed volumes within a part. It can be useful or problematic.
Multi-body parts are not inherently good or bad, but depending on
how you use them, they can mean either good news or bad news. This
chapter will show you how to use them carefully to get the most benefit and
avoid typical problems.

You could work with SolidWorks in such a way that you would never need
to use multiple bodies inside a single part, ever. Almost everything that
average users normally do can be done with a single solid body and without
any knowledge of multi-body functionality whatsoever.

However, to access some more powerful functionality, and options that offer
more flexibility, multi-body modeling is necessary. In fact, if you want to
move on to surface modeling, multi-body knowledge is mandatory because
in surface modeling, multi-body is the default.

Multi-body modeling is the gateway from basic solid modeling mainly
described in the book up until now into the more advanced functionality
that follows. The gateway can lead in two directions: it can lead to more
power, more flexibility, more options, more advanced functionality, or it can
lead to sloppy, bad habits that could get you or those who work with your
data into some modeling hot water down the road. This chapter will help
you tell the difference and avoid the pitfalls.