Add a SmartSnap Component to an Assembly

Library

SmartSnap components are added to assemblies as local parts.

  • A SmartSnap component can be a part or an assembly. It is also called an adaptive component.
  • When you add a SmartSnap component to an assembly, you are also positioning the component in the assembly with geometric constraints.
  • When SmartSnap components are added, assembly constraints left free are taken into consideration. You can position the component in approximately the right location by dragging, and use constraints to define the final positioning.
  • Positioned SmartSnap components have external references to the surrounding assembly geometry. If you edit the assembly geometry, the SmartSnap component will adapt accordingly.

You can find the program's sample components in the component library folder System/SmartSnap.

As an example, the end plate of an I beam (part).

Add a SmartSnap component to an assembly as follows:

  1. Select in the Browser the the folder. For example, select Standard, and select SmartSnap.
  2. Select from the library the correspond thumbnail image by by double-clicking the left mouse button, and select Open.

    The selected SmartSnap component is opened in a separate model window (A).

  3. You can view the component using the window buttons.

    You can, for example, rotate the component, change the projection, or zoom the component in and out.

  4. Follow the prompts when positioning the SmartSnap component in the assembly.
    • The prompts (B) appear right below the model window.

      For example, Click Point (Coincident 1/4).

    • The SmartSnap element for which the prompt asks you to select a matching element from the assembly is simultaneously highlighted.

      For example, a point is highlighted with a yellow ball in the SmartSnap component (A).

    • If an illustrative image (C) was created for the SmartSnap component during its creation, it will be displayed below the model and the prompt.
  5. Click matching elements from the assembly for all constraints of the SmartSnap component.
  6. Edit the geometry of the SmartSnap component in the dimension table.

    For example, edit the number and diameter of the holes.

  7. Confirm the dimension table data.
  8. Select OK.
Note:
  • If you edit the geometry of the assembly, select the Solve function. This function will solve the parts with external references in the assembly model, such as the SmartSnap components. Subassemblies inserted in to the assembly as links are to be solved only if the subassembly has the Solved as Subassembly property.
  • Insufficient constraint definition. If a SmartSnap component added to an assembly has insufficient constraint definitions, these will be displayed in the feature tree of the part in the sketching mode as follows:

    A matching element connected to the Coincident constraint (point, line or face) is missing from the assembly geometry.