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Transferring assembly cuts to part files in SolidWorks

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J
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I’m designing a clamping fixture for a CNC-milled aluminum part on Solidworks, where a set of pins and slots needs to precisely align across multiple plates. I initially created the cut features at the assembly level to make sure everything lines up correctly, but now I need to push those cuts down to the individual part files so they’re included in the manufacturing drawings. I tried using “Insert > Features > Cut” but it’s messy and doesn’t update cleanly when dimensions change. What’s your workflow to keep geometry parametric while ensuring these features exist at the part level?

    • J

      I’m designing a clamping fixture for a CNC-milled aluminum part on Solidworks, where a set of pins and slots needs to precisely align across multiple plates. I initially created the cut features at the assembly level to make sure everything lines up correctly, but now I need to push those cuts down to the individual part files so they’re included in the manufacturing drawings. I tried using “Insert > Features > Cut” but it’s messy and doesn’t update cleanly when dimensions change. What’s your workflow to keep geometry parametric while ensuring these features exist at the part level?

      0
    • Y

      Hey! I ran into a similar issue a while back. My go-to method is to use “Derived Parts” or “Insert Part” features within the part files themselves, referencing the geometry you want from the assembly or other parts. That way, you keep the features parametric and linked. You can create sketches for the cuts in the assembly, and then bring those sketches into the individual parts to drive the cuts. It’s a bit of setup, but much cleaner than doing cuts only in the assembly.

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      • J
        YvesYves

        So if I understand correctly, I would create the cut sketches at the assembly level and then insert those sketches into each part to define the cuts. Does that mean any changes in the assembly sketches automatically update the parts?

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      • Y
        JakeL

        Exactly. The sketches stay linked as long as you keep the assembly sketches fully defined and avoid circular references. This keeps your parts clean and parametric without messy feature duplication. I also sometimes use “Copy/Paste Special” with “Paste Link” to bring sketches from assembly to parts. It keeps a live link but avoids complicated assembly cuts. Also, if you have multiple part variants, configurations help manage parametric changes without breaking references.

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Transferring assembly cuts to part files in SolidWorks
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