SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [190]
To use a library feature, you just drag-and-drop it from the Design Library onto the appropriate geometry. You are then prompted to select references in the new part that match the base geometry that the library feature is attached to. You can be fairly creative with references, but one of the goals when creating the feature is to make it work with as few references as possible, in order to make it easy, fast, and reliable to use.
SolidWorks software installs with several sample library features in the Design Library. The following demonstration uses some of these standard library features. Later, you can add library features from the DVD to your Design Library.
Applying the library feature interface
Library features work best if they go from a certain type of base geometry to a similar type of base geometry; for example, from rectangular to rectangular or from circular to circular. This is because the relations or dimensions that link the feature to the rest of the part tend to be dimensions from straight edges or concentric sketch relations. Of course, there are other ways of applying library features, but these are the most prevalent. Library features can be applied unconstrained and then constrained or moved later, but the process is cleanest when it all just falls together correctly the first time.
Using the Task Pane
You do not have to save the part or do anything special before applying a library feature. All you need to do is find the Task Pane. The Task Pane is the window that flies out from the right when you open SolidWorks. You may have turned it off and forgotten about it, in which case you can turn it back on by choosing View⇒Task Pane from the menu.
The Task Pane automatically closes when you click outside of it unless you pin it open using the pushpin icon in the upper-right corner of the window. When you do this, any toolbars that appeared on the right side of the Task Pane control tabs are moved out and positioned between the graphics window and the Task Pane, which now remains open by default.
You can also detach the Task Pane by dragging the bar at the top of the pane. Figure 13.8 shows the Task Pane docked to the right side of the SolidWorks window.
Tip
If you are using dual monitors, you can drag the detached Task Pane onto the second monitor, which enables you to use the Task Pane and at the same time gives you more room in the graphics area. You must do this for each session; the Task Pane does not remember positions on a second monitor.
Using Design Library
The Design Library tab displays an image of a stack of books. It is the overall library area for all sorts of elements in SolidWorks, which I discuss later in this chapter. The only part of the Design Library of concern right now is the Features folder. If you expand this folder, you can see that it is populated with some sample features.
Open a new part and create a cylinder using any method you want (for example, extrude, revolve). Make the diameter 3 inches and the length a little more than 1 inch.
FIGURE 13.8
The Task Pane docked to right side of the SolidWorks window
In the Inch features folder, click the folder called o-ring grooves. The first feature in the list is called face static – gas. Drag-and-drop this feature onto the end flat face of the cylinder. As shown in the image to the left in Figure 13.9, the PropertyManager displays a yellow information panel explaining the process.
The next step is to select the configuration, as shown in the image to the right in Figure 13.9. Not all library features have multiple size configurations, but these do. The configs in this case are driven by design tables. Select configuration 330.
FIGURE 13.9
Placing the feature and selecting the configuration
When you select the configuration, the interface changes. In this case, only a sketch relation locates the feature; it is not located by dimensions. Notice that in