Pro/E has a similiar feature to SolidWorks' Library Feature part, and I'm guessing they don't work the same. I've created what I thought would be a library feature part, however - I can't seem to get this thing to work at all - I'm guessing this doesn't work like Pro/E's User Defined Features. I'm really hoping I've gone it about completely wrong. I was hoping to use this feature over and over in either assemblies or parts within assemblies. The important part for me is the configurations and their attached display states.
So here's how I was hoping it would work: I would create sketches in a "Frame" assembly. For each part, I could insert a "start part" containing all the reference points/planes etc needed for my feature, but based on mates, would be sized to the correct length. But, every time I try, I get an error saying can't be created... something something...
I've attached the parts I'm playing with - can anybody tell me what I'm doing wrong?
Thanks for any help,
Todd
I have used library features in the past for standard cutout combinations for mounting components that get reused through out our entire product line. The library features contain cuts, extrudes, hole wizard holes, additional planes etc. I then insert these library features into parts as needed. The initial sketch of the feature is then constrained using standard dimensions/constraint techniques.
Sounds to me like you should create a part that contains all of the sketch geometry required to design your product. This part would then be the first part in your assembly. This "base" part could then be inserted into future parts (insert>part) and your geometry could be created based on the sketch entities. An alternative is to insert your subsequent parts into the assembly and generate the geometry in the context of the assembly relative to the sketch points in the initial part.
Have a look in the following threads pertaining to the use of skeleton sketches and top down design.
https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/10879
https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/27640
and/or do a search for the user Mauricio Martinez-Saez