How to join 2 objects?

[sarkadi]

Like if I have 2 shelves, and I want a double shelf, is there an easy way to take the 2 and just "group" them so that they are always parallel and both selected when I select one?

[SharkDesign]

Depends what you want to do. 

You can put them both in an assembly and put them into another assembly.

If you want them in the same part. Put them in an assembly how you want them, double click one to edit in place, then use the copy command to copy the other one into that part. 

[SharkDesign]

3D Model tab > Modify panel > Copy Object is the command I'm on about

 .

[SharkDesign]

This is for something else, but it shows how to copy.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/community/screencast/0dda9302-0892-482b-9297-302cffac8185

[mcgyvr]

There is no "group" command in an assembly but as stated you could "Demote" those 2 shelves into their own subassembly. (Demote is the same as just creating a new assembly and placing those parts into it and giving it a new filename)..

Then you could go into the document settings for that and set its bom structure to "Phantom" which would cause those parts to be pushed up into the upper level BOM/Parts list so instead of seeing the subassembly in your upper level parts list you would see exactly how many shelves you placed into the assembly. 

[mcgyvr]

If you just want 2 shelves in a single part file then you simply need to use "Rectangular Pattern" in the part file to create a duplicate of the shelf you have already modeled. 

[SharkDesign · Accepted solution]

Oh demote as well! Select the two shelves and just press tab.

[sarkadi]

Thanks that solution makes sense but when I try to do it I get the error "paste components failed- an assembly cannot be placed into itself"

[mcgyvr]

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@sarkadi wrote:

Thanks that solution makes sense but when I try to do it I get the error "paste components failed- an assembly cannot be placed into itself"

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You just aren't doing the process correctly..

See here for a simple walkthrough video on Demote..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhvpWMHgxeU

[SharkDesign]

You can't paste into itself. You paste the 2 shelf agreement into a fresh assembly.

Selecting both parts and pressing tab will make a new sub assembly for you and you won't need to put it into a new assembly.

When you demote it, are you using the same assembly name or a new name?