Chapter 19: Using Smart Components
FIGURE 19.8
Placing the connector on the dummy part- Exit Edit Component mode and add two instances of the part named Chapter 19 –
Smart Connector Hardware.sldprt to the assembly. Mate the hardware part to
the in-context hole, making sure that it goes to the outside thickness of the dummy sheet
metal part.
Note
I have spent a fair amount of time trying to convince you that it is a best practice to avoid mating parts to in-
context features, and yet here I tell you to do exactly that. Another thing I have tried to stress is that best prac-
tice suggestions are more like guidelines. If you are having performance problems with an assembly, then this
may not be a great technique to use. However, sometimes there is a price to pay for sophisticated functional-
ity, and if you think that your design can afford the price and will benefit from this functionality, then you
should use it. n
- Now that everything is in place, click the Make Smart Component tool on the
assembly toolbar. If the button is not there, you can add it to the assembly toolbar by
choosing Tools ➪ Customize menu, or by choosing Tools ➪ Make Smart Component. The
resulting interface is shown in Figure 19.9. - In the Smart Component selection box, select the connector part.
- In the Components selection box, select the two hardware components.
- In the Features selection box, select the in-context feature from the dummy part.
- You are now finished setting up the Smart Component. Click the green check mark
icon to accept the changes and exit out of the PropertyManager, and save the file.