A final preparation step that can often help simplify the design process is to identify areas of the part in which the geometry will not change in size or relative position, but which should be able to move (translate, rotate) as a unit. By defining these areas as rigid bodies, you can significantly reduce the number of constraints needed, and make the design process more predictable.

A rigid body is a named collection of geometry that acts as if it is sufficiently constrained to prohibit any relative change of size or position among the elements collected into it. The geometry collected into a rigid body can only be translated and/or rotated as a whole. To link a rigid body with other elements in a part, you can assign constraints between these elements and any element inside the rigid body.

Most Creo Elements/Direct Drafting geometry elements as well as hatching and subparts can be included in a rigid body. Like zones, rigid bodies are implemented via Creo Elements/Direct Drafting infos; entities with the info text PD_RIGID are linked into rigid bodies. For more in-depth information on rigid body applications see Advanced Topics and Tips.

The Generate Rigids commands allow you to define and manipulate an unlimited number of rigid bodies inside a given part. The Generate Rigids options are: