When Do You Use Main Parts and When Sub-Parts?

If a part is a self-contained part, i.e. if it does not belong to any other part in the drawing it is a Main part.

Sub-parts are all parts that belong to other parts in the drawing, e.g. parts that are welded or bolted to another part in the drawing. Bores or bolts, for instance, always belong to a workpiece, i.e. they are always sub-parts. When using standard parts, construction aids etc. HiCAD will automatically create these sub-parts. Sub-parts can in turn have their own sub-parts.

When subdividing a drawing into main parts and sub-parts you should keep the following rules in mind:

• Part rule
  All parts that are physically one part - such parts that you can pick up like a flange or a bolt - are interpreted as self-contained parts. Reason: If you want to move or reuse such a part later, you can address it as a complete part, and will not have to move each line separately. The next two rules decide whether you make this part a main part or a sub-part.
• Main Part Rule
  If a part is a self-contained part, i.e. if it does not belong to any other part in the drawing it is a Main part. In a drawing with more than one part this will be the Main assembly, which is, so to speak, some kind of top main part.
• Sub-part rule
  Sub-parts are all parts that belong to other parts in the drawing, e.g. parts that are welded or bolted to another part in the drawing. Bores or bolts, for instance, always belong to a workpiece, i.e. they are always sub-parts. When using standard parts, construction aids etc. HiCAD will automatically create these sub-parts. All parts that belong together constitute an Assembly, i.e. they are Sub-parts to this Assembly or Main assembly.

Assemblies, Main Parts and Sub-Parts • 2-D Drawing • 3-D Model Drawing