SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Chapter 18: Working with Library Features

Locating and Internal dimensions

When you create a library feature, SolidWorks adds two folders to the FeatureManager: the

References folder and the Dimensions folder. In turn, the Dimensions folder has two more folders:

Locating Dimensions and Internal Dimensions. All these folders are shown in Figure 18.14.

The References folder shows the entities you used to reference the library feature. These are the

features you are prompted to select upon placing the library feature in a new part. No additional

work on your part is required with this folder.

The Dimensions folder lists all the dimensions in the library feature. Some of these dimensions are

used to locate the feature to the dummy block and some are meant to size the feature itself. When

you make a library feature, it is recommended that you separate the locating features from internal

features by dragging the dimensions into the separate folders. The Locating Dimensions can be

changed while placing the library feature, but the Internal Dimensions cannot be accessed. You

might want to limit user access to some dimensions if you have standard tooling for the library fea-

ture that you are creating.

FIGURE 18.14

References, Locating dimensions, and Internal dimensions in a library feature

A function exists within SolidWorks parts called Edit Dimension Access. You can access it by right-

clicking the part icon at the top of the FeatureManager. This option enables an administrator to

limit the dimensions that users can change. Unfortunately, this option is not available in library

features, although it would be very helpful there.