SolidWorks® 2007 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 better 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 items 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 sizes

• 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 or bosses

  • Hole Wizard holes

  • Simple hole features

The setup time for Smart ...