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Smart Components & Fasteners With Mate Reference (PRODUCTIVITY TOOL)

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Chinmay Chavan
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17 views7 pages

Smart Components & Fasteners With Mate Reference (PRODUCTIVITY TOOL)

Uploaded by

Chinmay Chavan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SOLIDWORKS SMART COMPONENTS & Fasteners with Mate

References
SOLIDWORKS Design Library is a great way to optimize SOLIDWORKS and can help you become a super-efficient
designer. The idea is to optimize the addition of features and components when inserting common items. Here will look
at inserting electrical switches and gauges, but these methods can be used to insert multi-feature or component
combinations, along with associated parts that typically ride-along with the inserted primary component.

Setting up the Models


There are several steps in the process, from preparing the model to leveraging the design library for storage of
these commonly used items. We will need to first setup a component in the exact scenario that we would like to use it
in. This involves placing the component and adding any desired features, along with any additional components.

We will need to perform the following steps to achieve the goal:

 Add Mate References to primary component


 Add Extruded Cuts and other features
 Add additional ‘ride’ along components
 Make primary component ‘smart’
 Save to the Design Library
 Test for proper function

The primary component referred to below is the toggle switch in this example.

 Mate References
1. Open the primary component that needs a mate reference in SOLIDWORKS
2. Insert a Mate Reference using Insert > Reference Geometry > Mate Reference
(It is also found on the Features toolbar under Reference Geometry)

3. For the Primary selection, use the first mating surface that would normally be used to position the part. In this
case, we use the flat on the back side of the bezel as this will always be mated, with or without a cut out.
Additional secondary and tertiary faces are added to position should a square cut out exist but are not required.

4. Click OK or Green Check


 Mock Assembly for Feature Capture
You will notice that in this example we are using a purpose-built plate that extends just around the component. It
is small and simple, very much on purpose. This is a required step, and the purpose-built plate component is needed for
this. Do not use an existing design to satisfy this step, take the time and create the mock part(s) and assembly needed.
This mock assembly will be used in the preview later.
1. Create a new part that will receive the toggle switch. In our example a 4” x 4” x 0.0625” plate is used.
2. Insert the new plate part into a new assembly.
3. Insert the primary component into the assembly.

4. Edit the new plate component, using Edit Component.


5. Insert a sketch using the front face of the plate.
6. Add a rectangular cut out to allow for the primary component to fit into the plate with an appropriate
tolerance. Use references from the primary component to properly centre the rectangle.

7. Use a Cut Extrude feature to cut the plate with a 1” Blind end condition.

8. Click the Green Check and exit the Edit Component mode.
 Ride Along Components
In our example of the rocker switch does not need any additional components. However, we do have a gauge used
in the main assembly that does. The gauge uses three screws to hold it in place and those would need to be added to its
mock assembly. Features like Smart Fasteners can be used to automatically insert the fasteners based on the hole
wizard specifications. SOLIDWORKS Pro or Premium and Toolbox are required for Smart Fasteners operations. Other
components can be used instead of Smart Fasteners but would need to be placed in the mock assembly with mates to
fully define their position.
1. Use Insert > Smart Fasteners

2. Click OK to the extra time warning


3. Select one of the hole wizard holes in the component

4. Click Add
5. Modify properties if needed, then click a Green Check

Smart Components
The idea behind making your components smart is that you will want to include the additional features, such as cut-outs
and to include the additional ride-along components. Here is how we accomplish adding the intelligence to the
components.

1. Select your primary component from the feature tree


2. Go to Tools > Make Smart Component

3. (Optional) Add additional ride-along components. Just select them from the design area.
4. Add features, and in our case, we will add the cut out

a. You may need to add the cut out by selecting it from the design window.
5. Click the Green Check

Your component will now have a lightning bolt, indicating that it is a smart component.
 Save to Design Library
The Design Library is a function in SOLIDWORKS that relates to a stored location of files. This library can be
relocated to a network location or placed inside of your PDM for easy access. Should you desire to do this you will need
to copy or move the files from the default location, then in all of the client machines, you will need to repoint their Tools
> Options > File Locations > Design Library setting.

Once the data path is correctly placed, the following is the method you will need to follow to add Smart Components to
your library.
1. Expand the Task Pane, then the Design Library and select the Smart Components folder

2. Right-click the primary component, then expand the menu at the bottom, and select Add to Library

3. Add an appropriate description and select the folder you would like to save the component in.

4. Click the Green Check


 Using the Smart Component
When adding features and ride-alone components is needed, you will want to use Smart Components. This can
save many steps and large amounts of time for the design team when utilized for common components. Here is how we
use these.
1. Open the assembly where you want to use the Smart Component
2. Expand the Design Library to the Smart Components folder
3. Left-click and drag the primary component into the assembly

4. When prompted with adding a mate condition, select the appropriate mate type, then Green Check
5. Reposition the component as desired adding additional mates and conditions
a. Here we are adding 2x distance mates to correctly position the switch

6. Once positioned, select the component from the feature tree, then select the Insert Smart Features lightning
bolt on the Smart Component in the design area.

7. A preview will present requesting the sketch plane face to be selected. Click on the face.

8. Click the Green Check.


 Conclusion
Learning how to leverage Design Library Features and Smart Components can be one of the greatest time-savers
found in the SOLIDWORKS software. Design library works great when using one or more features and wishing to drag
and drop this set of features onto multiple part files.

A Smart Component can similarly use and reuse features, but can also incorporate part files to be automatically
positioned when dragging and dropping the smart component. In our example, we applied “Smart Features” to a three-
prong power port so that, whenever we drag and drop this part onto the back panel of a guitar amp, we can automate
the creation of the required cut extrude features as well as automate the insertion and positioning of the required
screws and nuts to mount this part on our amp. This will prove to be a huge time-saver since we use power for all of our
amps.

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