Hi @ppemawm,
first, i am very impressed about all the complex models you have already done with FreeCAD. Very impressive.
ppemawm wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:25 pm
This is a useful enhancement for bottom-up modelling.
My idea for the new feature within A2plus is quite the opposite. My idea goes that direction:
1) I create a master document with multiple sketches and if needed, spreadsheets, for the job to be done.
- Perhaps one sketch each for the outer dimensions, axis distances, guiding rails, fixing points, section sketches. Even on different working planes.
2) If the master document is looking ok, there is time to create first parts.
For that, a new document is created and at first step all the relevant sketches from the masterdoc for that part(s) are imported for reference purposes.
It is even possible to create only one part according to the imported sketches or even more parts for e.g. a subassembly, which can
be edited in this case in-context in one sub file.
3) When first parts are done (or a subassembly), the time is right to create the a main assembly document. Even take (import) the needed sketches
from the master document and import/constraint the newly created parts to the needed positions.
For my (very personal) needs, i have to design each part in a separate file, as all parts have to be manufactured and i have to send separate
drawings or CAD data to the suppliers ( I am using FC in real world). Also, parts are reused for more recent projects.
Going this way, everything is not so directly responsive as using links. But many things are decoupled and working on one part does not cause
heavy loads during recompute on the whole assembly.
But this is only the idea. Everyone has a different working style and perhaps i am a little bit old fashioned. I think the way described above is more top-down than bottom up.
ppemawm wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:25 pm
Is it possible to also create all of the parts/bodies and final assembly in the same file similar to Assembly4 ?
As i tried to explain above, probably not.