SolidWorks® 2009 Bible

Chapter 19. Using Smart Components

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Understanding Smart Components

• Using Smart Components

• Making Smart Components

• Tutorial: Working with Smart Components

Smart Components are one of the more effective design automation tools to come from SolidWorks in the last several releases. This is functionality that can save you a lot of time; the more standard parts or assemblies with associated part-level features that you insert into your assemblies, the more time it can save you.

Smart Components are parts or assemblies that you can place into an upper-level assembly and that carry with them mounting features and hardware (cut-outs, mounting holes, and even fasteners). Smart Components are configurable, and can automatically size themselves on cylindrical parts.

Understanding Smart Components

A Smart Component can comprise several elements:

• A single part or an assembly that may use size configurations

• A configurable library feature that usually serves as mounting holes or a viewing window for the Smart Component

• Associated hardware that may also be driven by size configurations

• A training assembly that is used to define the Smart Component

Some minor limitations exist, as you might expect:

• A Smart Component part cannot have references that are external to the Smart Component group of which it is a member

• When placed in the assembly, the associated library feature can only affect one component

• The associated library feature is limited to one of several feature types:

  • Extruded or revolved cuts ...