## Overview Assembly configurations allow multiple variations of an assembly model to be stored and managed within a single file. Each configuration can represent a different size, component arrangement, operational position, or suppression state — enabling efficient design exploration and documentation without duplicating files. Configurations work alongside display states, design tables, and performance tools to streamline complex assembly management. ## Key Concepts - **Configuration** – a distinct variation of an assembly (dimensions, mates, component states) saved within the same file - **Configuration Manager** – the dedicated interface panel for creating, selecting, and managing configurations - **Active Configuration** – the configuration currently displayed and editable in the modelling environment - **Display State** – a visual-only setting (hide/show, transparency, colour) that can be linked to a configuration or managed independently - **Derived Configuration** – a child configuration linked to a parent; parent changes cascade down, but child changes do not cascade up - **Design Table** – a spreadsheet-based tool embedded in the model file that controls multiple configuration parameters simultaneously - **SpeedPak** – a lightweight, simplified representation of an assembly configuration that loads only selected geometry into memory to improve performance ## Detailed Notes ### Creating Configurations Manually 1. Open the **Configuration Manager** tab. 2. Right-click the top-level assembly name. 3. Select **Add Configuration**. 4. Enter a **configuration name** and optional description. 5. Set **Bill of Materials (BOM) options** to control how the part number displays in a BOM. 6. Confirm with the green checkmark. 7. The new configuration becomes the **active configuration**. 8. Modify the assembly for this configuration (add/remove mates, suppress/unsuppress components, change dimensions). ### Derived (Child) Configurations - Created as a child linked to a parent configuration - **Parent → Child:** changes to the parent propagate to the child - **Child → Parent:** changes to the child do **not** propagate to the parent - Useful for creating minor variations from a common baseline ### Advanced Configuration Options Advanced options in the Configuration Properties control how a configuration reacts when new elements are added **while a different configuration is active**. - **Suppress new features and mates** – any feature or mate added in another active configuration is automatically **suppressed** in this configuration - **Hide new components** – any component added in another active configuration is automatically **hidden** in this configuration - **Suppress new components** – any component added in another active configuration is automatically **suppressed** in this configuration > These settings prevent unintended changes from bleeding across configurations during active modelling. ### Mapping Part Configurations to Assembly Configurations When a part file contains its own configurations, each assembly configuration can reference a specific part configuration. 1. Ensure the part file already has the required configurations defined. 2. Insert the part into the assembly. 3. Right-click the component in the **FeatureManager Design Tree**. 4. Select **Component Properties**. 5. In the **Referenced configuration** section, choose the part configuration to link to the current assembly configuration. 6. Use the **Change properties in** dropdown to specify scope: - *This configuration* - *All configurations* - *Specify configurations* ### Design Tables Design tables provide a spreadsheet interface for managing many configurations and parameters at once. #### Creating a Design Table 1. Navigate to **Insert → Tables → Design Table**. 2. Choose a source: - **Auto-create** – extracts existing configurations and parameters automatically - **Blank** – starts with an empty spreadsheet 3. Select the dimensions, mates, or suppression states to control. 4. The spreadsheet opens inside the graphics area. #### Design Table Structure - **Rows** represent individual configurations - **Columns** represent controllable parameters (dimensions, suppression states, part configurations) - **Suppression values:** `S` = Suppressed, `R` = Resolved - **Part configuration reference syntax:** `$CONFIGURATION@ComponentName` #### Applying Changes - Edit cell values to modify existing configurations - Add new rows to create new configurations - Click outside the spreadsheet to close it and rebuild the model ### SpeedPak SpeedPak creates a performance-optimised representation of an assembly configuration by loading only a subset of faces and bodies into memory. Remaining geometry appears as a visual "ghost" but cannot be selected for mating or dimensioning. #### Creating a SpeedPak 1. Activate the target configuration. 2. Right-click the configuration name in the **Configuration Manager** → select **Add SpeedPak**. 3. In the PropertyManager, select the **faces**, **bodies**, or **components** that must remain selectable (e.g., mating faces for higher-level assemblies). - Use the **Quick Include** slider to auto-select geometry based on size or visibility. 4. Confirm with the green checkmark. 5. A SpeedPak configuration is created (indicated by a specialised icon). #### Updating a SpeedPak - If the original geometry changes, the SpeedPak must be manually refreshed. - Right-click the SpeedPak configuration → select **Update SpeedPak**. ## Tables ### Configuration Management Methods Compared | Method | Best For | Key Advantage | Key Limitation | |---|---|---|---| | **Manual Configuration** | Simple, low-count variations | Full control per configuration | Tedious for many configurations | | **Derived Configuration** | Minor variations from a baseline | Parent-child inheritance saves effort | Child changes do not cascade upward | | **Design Table** | Many configurations with shared parameters | Spreadsheet bulk editing | Requires understanding of column syntax | | **SpeedPak** | Very large or complex assemblies | Dramatically improves performance | Non-included geometry is non-selectable | ### Advanced Options Behaviour Matrix | Option | Trigger Condition | Effect on This Configuration | |---|---|---| | Suppress new features/mates | Feature or mate added in a **different** active config | Automatically **suppressed** | | Hide new components | Component added in a **different** active config | Automatically **hidden** | | Suppress new components | Component added in a **different** active config | Automatically **suppressed** | ### Design Table Syntax Reference | Column Header Syntax | Controls | |---|---| | Dimension name (e.g., `D1@Sketch1`) | Dimensional value | | Feature name (e.g., `$STATE@Feature1`) | Suppression state (`S` / `R`) | | `$CONFIGURATION@ComponentName` | Which part configuration is used | ## Diagrams ### Configuration Hierarchy ```mermaid graph TD A[Assembly File] --> B[Configuration 1 - Default] A --> C[Configuration 2] A --> D[Configuration 3] B --> B1[Display State A] B --> B2[Display State B] C --> C1[Derived Config 2a] C --> C2[Derived Config 2b] D --> D1[SpeedPak of Config 3] ``` ### Manual Configuration Creation Workflow ```mermaid flowchart TD A[Open Configuration Manager] --> B[Right-Click Assembly Name] B --> C[Select Add Configuration] C --> D[Enter Name and Description] D --> E[Set BOM Options] E --> F[Confirm] F --> G[New Config Becomes Active] G --> H[Modify Assembly for This Config] ``` ### Part-to-Assembly Configuration Mapping ```mermaid flowchart TD A[Part File with Multiple Configs] --> B[Insert Part into Assembly] B --> C[Right-Click Component] C --> D[Open Component Properties] D --> E[Select Referenced Part Configuration] E --> F[Set Scope via Change Properties In Dropdown] F --> G[Mapping Applied] ``` ### SpeedPak Creation Workflow ```mermaid flowchart TD A[Activate Target Configuration] --> B[Right-Click Config in Manager] B --> C[Select Add SpeedPak] C --> D[Select Faces / Bodies / Components to Include] D --> E[Optional: Use Quick Include Slider] E --> F[Confirm] F --> G[SpeedPak Created — Non-Included Geometry Becomes Ghost] ``` ### Design Table Workflow ```mermaid flowchart TD A[Insert → Tables → Design Table] --> B[Choose Source: Auto-Create or Blank] B --> C[Select Parameters to Control] C --> D[Spreadsheet Opens in Graphics Area] D --> E[Edit Cells / Add Rows] E --> F[Click Outside to Close] F --> G[Model Rebuilds with Updated Configurations] ``` ## Key Terms - **Configuration** – a saved variation of an assembly's state (geometry, mates, suppression) within a single file - **Configuration Manager** – the interface panel for creating and switching between configurations - **Active Configuration** – the configuration currently loaded and editable - **Display State** – visual appearance settings (visibility, colour, transparency) that may or may not be linked to a configuration - **Derived Configuration** – a child configuration that inherits from a parent configuration - **Design Table** – an embedded spreadsheet that controls configuration parameters in bulk - **Suppression** – disabling a feature, mate, or component so it is excluded from the model rebuild - **Resolved** – the normal, active state of a feature, mate, or component (opposite of suppressed) - **SpeedPak** – a lightweight configuration that loads only selected geometry for improved performance - **Quick Include** – a SpeedPak tool that auto-selects geometry based on size or visibility thresholds - **Ghost Geometry** – non-selectable visual representation of excluded bodies in a SpeedPak - **BOM (Bill of Materials)** – a structured list of components in an assembly, often used in manufacturing documentation - **FeatureManager Design Tree** – the hierarchical tree listing all features, components, and mates in a model ## Quick Revision - **Configurations** store multiple assembly variations (dimensions, mates, suppression states) in a single file - **Display states** control visual appearance only and can be linked to or independent of configurations - **Derived configurations** inherit from a parent; parent changes cascade down, child changes do not cascade up - **Advanced options** determine whether new features, mates, or components are automatically suppressed or hidden in a configuration when added from a different active configuration - **Part configurations map to assembly configurations** via Component Properties → Referenced Configuration - **Design tables** use an embedded spreadsheet (rows = configs, columns = parameters) for bulk management - **Design table syntax:** `S` = suppressed, `R` = resolved; `$CONFIGURATION@ComponentName` maps part configs - **SpeedPak** creates a lightweight representation by loading only selected faces/bodies, improving performance in large assemblies - **SpeedPak geometry** not explicitly included appears as a non-selectable visual ghost - **SpeedPaks must be manually updated** when the underlying geometry changes