Locating parts in an assembly?

[sz0k30]

Just a general type of question. I have an assembly consisting of several parts: A, B, C, D,........etc. All the individual parts have all the geometry necessary to create the part including maybe some extra reference geometry that might be required later. When I try to insert part G on to a point that is a reference point from part C, it doesn't go there, but instead goes to the original assembly origin point? Is that the way its supposed to work or am I doing something wrong?

If it doesn't work that way then what's the point of having the reference geometry?

Thanks.

 

[HaroldL]

When you insert parts into and assembly only the default planes, axes and Origin of the assembly are visible. If you want to constraint part G to part C then you need to RMB on both parts and Show Reference Geometry for them from the pop up menu. You can then apply constraints between parts G and C. When you're done applying constraints then RMB on them again to turn off their reference geometry.

 

[sz0k30]

Thanks for your response, but I think you kind of missed my original point. When I bring a new part into an assembly it either goes on the original assembly start point or somewhere out in space. If I have the Ref Geom already shown on another part, why won't Alibre allow me to place the new part on that Ref Point right off the bat?

 

[HaroldL]

I now see what you mean, I just tried with a small assembly to place a part at the origin of a part located away from the assembly origin. I was able to highlight the origin of part A as I placed part B but as soon as I LMB clicked to place part B it snapped to the assembly origin.

I think that is something that Support should take a look at to see if it is planned behavior or some kind of bug in Alibre.

I never noticed it before because I don't try to locate new items to the origin of parts already in the assembly while inserting them. Most of the time I just drop the part in the assembly workspace then "show" the reference geometry of the all the parts and start applying constraints. Sometimes I will see items that could be in a sub assembly so I delete them from the assembly I am working on then create the sub and insert that.