Remove all part features in one easy step with SOLIDWORKS Convert to Bodies

If you go to the trouble of saving a SOLIDWORKS part as a neutral file format in order to remove ALL feature data from your model then you will find that modern releases can save you a few steps with the new SOLIDWORKS “Convert to Bodies” function.

SOLIDWORKS bodies converted to a single feature

To access this new function, right-mouse click on the part name at the top of the FeatureManager Design Tree and select “Convert to Bodies” from the shortcut menu.

You will then be prompted with a warning that bodies will be permanently deleted and SOLIDWORKS offers various “Save As” options to create a new part from the conversion.

Convert to Bodies Dialog

The nifty bit of functionality is that if the part is a component within an assembly, SOLIDWORKS will retain the mate references from other parts, assemblies, and drawings as you convert its features over to bodies.

Converted Feature

This will allow you to remove any feature history but still retain the bodies and surfaces.

Related note: If you are converting your parts and thinking that the removal of feature data will make loading SOLIDWORKS models “Faster” in your larger assemblies, we suggest another approach (saving assemblies as parts won’t help either).