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Note

Notice that names have been assigned to all the dimensions, sketches, and features. This is because the dimension names all display in the interface. If you look back to Figure 13.4, in the Size Dimensions pane, dimension names make it easy to know which dimension to change, whereas the D1 dimension leaves you guessing as to what it applies.

FIGURE 13.15

Creating a library feature

You should ensure that subsequent features after the first one reference only the first feature of the library feature (which is the second feature in the part). This is not a mandatory requirement, but a helpful guideline. You can make additional references, but they should be limited to the same items that were already referenced if possible. Users who model carelessly or do not pay attention to what they are doing typically have trouble making library features that function and are easy to use. Successful modeling of library features is like planning a strategy in a game of chess.

Now you can add the second extruded feature, being careful to reference only geometry that is going to move with the library feature. Figure 13.16 shows the newly added feature. If you would like to follow along as I detail how this feature is built, you can open the part from the DVD under the filename Chapter 13 First Library Feature.sldlfp.

FIGURE 13.16

Adding the next feature to the library feature

Notice that a plane has been added. The plane is made to only reference geometry that is internal to the library feature; it is perpendicular to an edge at the midpoint, which simultaneously locates and orients the plane correctly to enable it to be used to mirror the Ear feature.

Also, notice that the EarSketch uses the same face reference from the base feature. This will appear in the Reference list as a single reference.

Saving the library feature

You can use two methods to save a library feature. You can either drag-and-drop it into a Design Library folder or use the Save As method. Because Save As is a little more common, I describe it first.

The first step in saving the library feature is to select all the features in the FeatureManager that are intended to be a part of the library feature. Collapse the features first so that the sketches belonging to features are not selected. If the sketches are selected, you may get a warning message saying that no selected features can be used in the library feature. Do not worry; the sketches still will be included.

Tip

Remember that you can Ctrl+select individual features, Shift+select a range, or click-and-drag a selection box in the FeatureManager to select multiple features. Also keep in mind that if you do not select a feature (other than the base feature), then it will not be placed into the part when you insert the library feature. If there were any relations to the omitted feature, they may display as errors or warnings when you place the feature.

With the features selected, click File, click Save As, and under Files of Type drop-down list, select the *.sldlfp file type. Browse to the Design Library folder and save the part. Figure 13.17 shows the FeatureManager of the finished library feature.

FIGURE 13.17

The finished library feature part

Changing the display of the library feature thumbnail

During the Save As process, a new folder was added to the Design Library named Bosses, as shown in Figure 13.17. Notice the new icon for the library feature in the lower window. You may notice that some of the default library features saved in the Design Library have a bluish background. This occurs because of the SolidWorks viewport background color, which you can set by choosing Tools⇒Options⇒Colors. Even if you never see that color because you are using a gradient background or a scene, SolidWorks still uses the color specified by that setting as the background when saving thumbnails and previews. I always set this color to white for this reason, so that document backgrounds in previews do not have the blue color.

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