I can't believe I am the only person having this problem, so I am hoipeing someone has come up with a soultuion already. Normally every item weuse gets assigned a part number. This works fine except for "assemblies" that we buy from other vendors. For us, this is typically hinges and linear actuators. So far, I have been creating a hinge part, with each half and the pin as a configuration, and then creating an assembly file. The problem with this meathod is that when I do a bill of materials, it doubles or triples the hing count. It seems like what I want I need is a multibody part, but I can't seem to make a multibody part flexible. Does anyone have any idea on how to make a functional hinge or say a hydralic cyclinder as a single file with all the limit mates of a normally assembly? I am using solidworks 2011.
Thanks
Chris
SolidworksAssemblies