Can you save an entire assembly as a single part file in SolidWorks?

ByCADbrief Staff

Short Answer

Yes — in SolidWorks, you can save an entire assembly as a single part file using Save As and choosing Part (*.sldprt). The most common professional method is to save the assembly as a multi-body or exterior-face part for simplified downstream use. Limitation: this process can remove component-level parametric relationships.

What You Need to Know Before

Warning: Saving an assembly as a part can strip mates, assembly structure, and some custom properties tied to individual components. If you choose exterior faces only, internal bodies and hidden geometry may be excluded, which can break later edits or mass-property checks.

How to Save an Entire Assembly as a single part in SolidWorks

  • Command: Save As

  • Shortcut: None by default

  • Quick Steps:

    1. Open the assembly, then go to File > Save As.
    2. In Save as type, choose *Part (.sldprt)**.
    3. In the Save As dialog, click Options, then select All Components, Exterior Components, or Exterior Faces, and click Save.

Variables & Settings

  • Key Setting: Options in the Save As dialog for assembly-to-part conversion

  • Expert Setting:

    • All Components keeps all solid bodies in the new part and is the safest choice for full geometry retention.
    • Exterior Components simplifies the file by keeping only outside-relevant bodies.
    • Exterior Faces creates the lightest simplified result, but it is most likely to lose internal detail needed for section views, interference checks, or manufacturing edits.

Why it Fails

  • Cause 1 (Geometry): Surface bodies, lightweight components, or imported parts with bad geometry may not convert cleanly into a usable single part.
  • Cause 2 (layers/Locks): Referenced components stored in read-only locations or missing file paths can prevent complete assembly geometry from being included.
  • Cause 3 (Command/Logic): Choosing Exterior Faces or Exterior Components can intentionally omit internal parts, which users often mistake for a failed conversion.

Quick Fix & Best Practice

  • Quick Fix: Re-run Save As and use Options > All Components to preserve the full assembly geometry in the part file.
  • Manager’s Verdict: Use assembly-to-part conversion for simplified sharing, neutral exports, and performance improvement, but avoid it when you still need mates, bom structure, or frequent component-level edits.

FAQ

Can you keep all parts in one solidworks part file?
Yes, use Save As to create a part and select All Components.

Will the new part stay linked to the original assembly?
No, it becomes a separate part file without normal assembly behavior.

Can you export the single part as STEP afterward?
Yes, once saved as a part, you can export it to STEP normally.

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