SolidWorks Assembly
Import SLDASM files into your digital twin
Whole machines modeled in SolidWorks, from the assembly file to an asset standing in the 3D model of your plant.
- File extensions
- .sldasm
- Developed by
- Dassault Systèmes (SolidWorks)
- Category
- Native CAD
- Geometry
- Assembly structure referencing parametric parts
- Typical software
- SolidWorks
- Import pipeline
- Autodesk Platform Services translation
What is a SLDASM file?
SLDASM is the SolidWorks assembly format. An assembly file does not contain part geometry itself; it stores references to the .sldprt files it is built from, along with the mates that position them relative to each other. That design keeps assemblies light and lets many assemblies share the same part files.
The referencing model is the one thing to understand before moving assemblies around: an .sldasm separated from its parts is an empty structure. SolidWorks ships a Pack and Go tool that collects an assembly and every file it references into one folder or zip precisely for this reason.
Where these files come from
Complete machines, production lines, and multi-part fixtures modeled in SolidWorks all live as SLDASM files, typically at machine builders and in-house engineering teams.
How to import SLDASM files into Moicon
As simple as four steps, from file to factory floor.
Step 1
Upload your model
In the Moicon dashboard, select Add asset and drag and drop your .sldasm file along with any files it references. Moicon accepts multiple files in a single upload.
Step 2
Let it process
Moicon translates SLDASM files through Autodesk Platform Services, the service behind its support for more than 70 formats. Translation time depends on the size and complexity of the model and the current service load.
Step 3
Name and organize it
Give the asset a name, add a thumbnail so it is easy to spot, and file it under the categories your team uses in the asset library.
Step 4
Place it in your project
Open your project and drop the asset into the viewport. From there you can position, clone, and scale it like any other asset in your twin.
Before you upload
A few SLDASM-specific details that save a second upload.
- Upload the assembly together with the parts it references. Moicon accepts multiple files in one upload, so select the whole set rather than the .sldasm on its own.
- If the referenced parts are scattered across folders, run Pack and Go in SolidWorks first. It collects the assembly and everything it references into one place, which makes selecting the complete set straightforward.
SLDASM FAQ
Why does an assembly need its part files?
Because a .sldasm stores references and positions, not geometry. The shapes live in the referenced .sldprt files, so the assembly and its parts belong together.
Can I upload an assembly and its parts at once?
Yes. Moicon's uploader takes multiple files in a single upload, so add the .sldasm and its referenced .sldprt files together and the assembly arrives complete.
How do I collect everything an assembly references?
Use Pack and Go inside SolidWorks. It gathers the assembly, all referenced parts and subassemblies, and optionally drawings into a single folder or zip.
Is there a simpler alternative to sending the native assembly?
Exporting the assembly as a single STEP file works too. You lose the SolidWorks feature data but gain one self-contained file, which is handy when the model has to travel between organizations.