AutoAssemble - File-Driven Model Tree Generation

Modified on Fri, 04 Oct 2019 at 10:35 AM

AutoAssemble - File-Driven Model Tree Generation


The AutoAssemble tool is used to automatically add components to assembly models.  It works in two modes:

  1. Automatically constraining existing components to an existing assembly based on schematic data [more info here]
  2. Automatically generating an assembly model tree of existing or new components based on file input


Mode 2 - File-driven Assembly Model Tree Generation 

Example File


The following link is to an example file which can be used to generate a model tree


Download Example CSV File


**Note that if you run this example, it will produce the model tree, but the contents will have likely have no geometry since all components will be newly created.


Example Steps


The following video demonstrates the automated generation of a new assembly based on an input file.  In this example, parts for an electronic equipment cabinet are placed in a new cabinet assembly.


AutoAssemble is launched from the CadActive tab. It can be executed in two modes:

  1. When an assembly is currently open, AutoAssemble assumes you are trying to add the desired input somewhere to the current model.
  2. If there is no active model, AutoAssemble will create a model tree from scratch



The AutoAssemble dialog requires 2 inputs if there is an active assembly (right) or 1 input if there is no active assembly (left)


  • Select the "Target Assembly" or subassy , which will receive the added components. The default is the active top assembly. 


  • Press the "Select Input File" button and use the browser to select the desired input data file.  The contents of the CSV file used in this example is shown below:



The product structure from the input file is added to the "PARENT_ASSY.ASM". Existing models are retrieved and new models are created and all are packaged into the assy. Existing skeleton models are added to the assembly as skeletons, with Feature # = 1, not as simple parts.



The model tree shows how the parameters specified in the file are automatically added to the components. 

  • If a parameter name has a prefix of "MODEL_PARAM_", that parameter will be set as a Model/Part/Assembly Parameter instead of as a Feature/Component Parameter
  • The DESCRIPTION parameter is used to set the model common name.


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