SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible - Matt Lombard [40]
In order for Component References to be used in balloons on an assembly drawing, the drawing must have a BOM with a Component Reference column. BOMs are handled in detail in Chapter 17, where the topic of Component References will be revisited.
FIGURE 4.15
Listing parts in an assembly containing Component Reference information
Viewing features, mates, and dependencies
The last set of options shown in Figure 4.12 determines whether you see the part features or the assembly mates after the name of each component in the assembly tree. The default setting is for the part's features or the subassembly's components to display, just as if the part or subassembly were open in its own window.
The View Mates and Dependencies option can also show the features, but they are placed into a separate folder. This option makes it very easy to see the mates that are assigned to an individual component. For example, in Figure 4.16, the image to the right shows the mates directly under the BibleBikeFrame part. This often makes troubleshooting much easier because it isolates the mates for a single part. Notice also that the first folder under the part name in the image to the left in Figure 4.16 is the Mates folder. This indicates that, regardless of whether you choose to display mates or features, you always have easy access to the other type.
FIGURE 4.16
You can view features, as well as mates and dependencies.
The View Mates tool is extremely valuable for looking at how an assembly is held together with mates. When you right-click a component in the assembly and choose View Mates from the RMB menu, SolidWorks highlights the component you clicked, and makes all parts that mate to that component transparent. Any parts that are not related are hidden. SolidWorks also displays a small dialog box with the list of mates touching the component you clicked.
Figure 4.17 shows this arrangement using the Bible Bike assembly. If you are a SolidWorks veteran, this works very differently from the way View Mates worked in the past, but you will probably agree that this is a big help in mate visualization.
If you Ctrl-select multiple components before starting the View Mates tool, SolidWorks no longer displays the common mates in bold format; it just lists them at the top of the dialog box.
FIGURE 4.17
Showing mates in the PropertyManager pane
Working with Assembly Tools
SolidWorks is incredibly complex software and contains a variety of tools that allow you to do many small tasks. This is particularly true with assemblies. Users expect so much of the software in various areas, and everyone needs something different. Many tools exist to help you put together, maintain, and evaluate efficient assemblies. This section describes important tools that don't fit into the other categories.
Using Sensors
Sensors provide an alert if a monitored value goes outside of a specified range. Sensors can be used in parts or in assemblies. The types of values that you can monitor with sensors are dimensional values, mass, volume or surface area, interference detection between selected components, and Simulation data (stress analysis values).
To create a sensor in an assembly, right-click the Sensors folder in the assembly FeatureManager. If the Sensors folder is not there, choose Tools⇒Options⇒FeatureManager page and turn it on. Figure 4.18 shows the Sensor setup interface.
FIGURE 4.18
Setting up a sensor in an assembly
Using the AssemblyXpert
You can find the AssemblyXpert on the Tools menu, or choose Tools⇒Customize from the menu to place it on the Assembly toolbar. AssemblyXpert gives suggestions about things