Model a SmartSnap Part Component

Library

You can model a SmartSnap component in an assembly. During modeling, the following data is stored in the SmartSnap component.

  • If a component is to be saved in the library, it must have geometric links to external parts. This requires that the component has been placed in an assembly. In this way, the geometric contraints connected to the component will be saved with it.
  • Data required in the creation of features.

After you have defined a SmartSnap component, you can use it in any assembly to which the component is suited.

Creating a SmartSnap component

Always model a SmartSnap component in an assembly.

  1. Open or create an assembly that contains the geometry required to model the component.
  2. Create a new local part for the local assembly. Select Local in the part data.
  3. Create a New 3D Sketch.
    • Add the necessary number of lines.
    • Add contraints from the lines to the other parts of the assembly, in such a way that the 3D sketch is fully defined.
    • Be careful not to accidentally create constraints connected to the origin of the 3D sketch.
    • Name the contraints in such a way that anyone using the component will understand the purpose of each constraint. If several constraints are connected to the element of the same external part, assign the same name to each one of them.
  4. Exit the draft by clicking OK.
  5. Model the geometry of the part with lines created in the 3D sketch. Also Position the sketches with these lines. Do not create sketches to base planes.
  6. When the component is finished, select the context-sensitive function Save to Library> As Component in the part editing mode (nothing is selected).
  7. If you save the file ComponentName_help.bmp in the component library with the file ComponentName.vxm, the browsing image will be shown when you add the component to the assembly.
Note:
  • When you are sketching a SmartSnap component, geometric constraints are automatically created between the sketch and the reference geometry. If you wish to sketch geometry for the component that you do not wish to fix to an external reference geometry, you can hide parts of the assembly. Constraints are not created between the component and hidden geometry.
  • Only sketch the necessary constraints for the SmartSnap component. The reason for this is that when you position the component in the assembly, the program will prompt you to select a matching element for all constraints defined for the component.

If the component does not work properly...

The reason is usually that the constraints are incorrectly defined. For example, in 3D sketches, the constraint elements are selected from the wrong parts. You can use the Model Data to File function to resolve the problem. The text file indicates which part controls which.

ACIS Compatibility / Errors