Can External References Be Deleted at Some Point When Working In-context

Is it possible to delete the external reference when you are done so
you have a stane-alone part, if your are using a layout sketch in an
assembly or referencing another component in an assembly? I realize
you would have to re-dimension or constrain the component you are
creating in-context to replace the lost references.

 

Yes.

1. In sketch use Display relations to find them
2. Make sure the sketch plane is local to the part
3. In the assembly remove the inplace mate.

For the most part that will get them. You will of course have to
redimension and make sure relations are replaced.

 

I am going from memory here, so the exact sequence may be off a bit.
Seems that from a part/assy file containing external references that you
want rid of, you can "list external references". Then there is an option to
"break all", or break individual ones. Once broken, the reference is
removed and the associated entity becomes essentially fixed in place. Might
be exactly what you are looking to do.

 

Breaking has a down side. It's like pulling off a tick and leaving the
head buried. There will still be information in the reference parts
that can't be gotten rid of.

Removing them at the source (sketches and sketch planes usually) is
the most robust. There are external references from hell, like cutting
planes from one part used to cut another part. Many times in those
cases using the List External Reference tool can be used to lock the
references which is probably what you want to do anyway in those
cases.

Also, with external references you have to be very careful about how
you save assemblies. If you don't use copy you can lose the references
when renaming.

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