Part sets are sets that you created in the part-related modules—Part or Property. The Mesh module also acts as a part-related module when you select the Part object from the context bar. When you import an orphan mesh from an output database, you also automatically import any sets as part sets. Part sets appear in the Model Tree in a Set container under the part with which they are associated. Only part sets are visible in the Set Manager in the Part and Property modules. You do not use part sets directly in the Part module; however, in the Property module you can assign sections to regions specified by part sets. If you assign a section to a region defined by a part set, Abaqus applies the section assignment to all instances of that part in the assembly.

When you instance a part in the Assembly module, you can refer to any part sets that you previously created; however, the assembly-related modules provide only read-only access to these sets, and you cannot access part sets from the Set Manager in assembly-related modules. Sets from an instanced part appear in the Model Tree under the assembly. You can select an eligible part set during a procedure (while applying a load or boundary condition, for example) by clicking the Set button on the far right side of the prompt area and selecting the set from the Region Selection dialog box that appears. Abaqus names the sets part_instance_name.set_name. You cannot access part sets from the Set Manager in an assembly-related module.

Assembly sets are sets that you created in the assembly-related modules—Assembly, Step, Interaction, or Load. The Mesh module also acts as an assembly-related module when you select the Assembly object from the context bar. Assembly sets appear in the Model Tree in a Set container under the assembly along with any sets from an instanced part. Only assembly sets are visible in the Set Manager in the assembly-related modules. You can use assembly sets to indicate, for example, regions of the assembly where you would like to apply a load or boundary condition or to obtain output. Assembly sets can include regions from multiple part instances.

An assembly set refers to the assembly itself and not to the individual part instances. As a result, Abaqus/CAE does not delete an assembly set if you delete a part instance contained in the set. You must manually delete the assembly set.