Creating Smart Components
You define a Smart
Component in a defining assembly. The following data is captured
in the component as a Smart Feature
:
External
references to the files of associated components.
Information
to create associated features.
Information
to reconstruct the defining assembly.
After you establish the component
as smart, you no longer need the files for the defining assembly or for
the parts containing the associated features,
because the information is stored in the smart component file. You do
still need the files of associated components,
because the smart component file contains external references to these
files.
To make a component smart:
Create an assembly containing:
The component you want to make smart
Components you want to associate with the
Smart Component
Components containing features you want to
associate with the Smart Component
Position the components and apply mates.
Click Make Smart
Component
(Assemblies toolbar) or Tools,
Make Smart Component.
Set options in the Smart Component PropertyManager.
Save the assembly and click Yes
to save the referenced models that have been modified.
When you click Yes,
all the defining data, including the information necessary to reconstruct
the defining assembly, is stored in the Smart Component document as a
Smart Feature
.
The defining assembly document is no longer needed.
To examine the definition of a Smart Component:
Open the Smart Component.
In the FeatureManager design tree, right-click
Smart Feature
and
select Preview.
A preview window appears, showing a temporary assembly of the component
and its associated components and features.
Under Smart Feature
, expand Features
, Components
, and References
, then select items from these folders.
The preview highlights the selected item.
Click anywhere in the graphics area to close the
preview window.