Open an Assembly Model as a Shell Model

Opening large assemblies in the working window can be slow. In particular, over slow networks it takes a long time to open an assembly.

Opening an assembly model in the working window can be sped up

• When you load an assembly model from the archive, it is first opened in the working window as a shell model.

  A shell model is a surface model, the visible surfaces of which are actual faces of the assembly model. A shell model is significantly lighter than the original model and can be opened in the working window much faster. In a shell model, the assembly tree structure is identical to that of the original assembly model.

• The original assembly model is not opened until you select a part or a subassembly for editing.

  Editing is performed on the original model, and any changes made to it are saved in the same place.

The shell model is generated when the model is saved

• Save the assembly model in the archive or the project archive. The original assembly model is created.

  For example, in the Vertex folder (picts or projects), EX400PipeAssy.vxm is displayed as the filename of the original model.

• When you save the assembly model in the archive, a shell model of it is also generated.

  For example, in the Vertex folder (picts or projects), (EX400PipeAssy).vxm is displayed as the filename of the shell model. The ID is enclosed in parentheses in the file name.

• Saving as a shell model can reduce the size of the model by as much as 95%. Thus, it is significantly faster to open the shell model in the working window.