Assembly Fundamentals

Parts combine into assemblies; assemblies are used to create drawings.
Assemblies can include multiple part files and subassemblies.
Subassemblies allow for modular design, team collaboration, or integrating external components.
Subassemblies are rigid by default in an assembly; change their property to 'resolve as flexible' for movement.

Design for Manufacturing (DFM): Reduce difficulty, time, and labor for assembly.
Design for Disassembly (DFD): Crucial for recycling, remanufacturing, and refurbishing.

Create exploded views for engineering drawings.
Best practices:
- Ensure balloon lines are clear and do not cross other parts or lines.
- Maintain space between components.
- Explode components in a maximum of $2$ directions to avoid confusion.

File Management: Save all parts for an assembly in a single folder (use naming conventions, not separate folders for subassemblies, to improve load times).
Component Insertion:
- Strategically choose the first component to insert; its origin can define the assembly's origin when placed without moving it and clicking the green check.
- Align the main planes ( $Front, Top, Right$ ) of the first part with the assembly's main planes.
Mates:
- Similar to sketch relations (coincident, parallel, perpendicular, tangent).
- Concentric Mates: Utilize the 'lock rotation' option for fasteners (e.g., rivets, screws, bolts, nuts) to prevent unintended movement and vibration.
Definition Status:
- A minus sign ( $-$ ) indicates an under-defined component.
- An 'f' indicates a fixed component.
- Under-definition is acceptable if the component is intended to move; otherwise, components must be fully defined.
Sharing: Always save an assembly as a 'Pack and Go' file to ensure all associated part files are included.