Now Let's Configure Features

On Monday I wrote about Configuring Dimensions.  Today I will show you how to configure features.  Lets use an updated version of our familiar bracket:

  

As you can see we now have a mounting hole, and a strengthening rib.  Our intention is to have three configurations of this part.  One will be without the rib, the second will be with the rib, but without the mount, the third will be without either, and the fourth will be with both which will be the default configuration for this part.

So now you may be thinking its time to start suppressing features and creating configurations and then making sure they all rebuild correctly.  Well here is an easier way.  First Right-Control-Select the rib feature, and the mount feature in the tree and select configure features:

 

We get the Modify Configurations window:

 

You will notice that you can click to suppress features instead of typing in dimensions.  Now its time to add in the configuration names and select the features to be suppressed for each one:

 

You can see that its basically just selecting which features to suppress to get the resulting configurations you want.  That where the time savings really comes in for using this tool.  The final step is to select the rebuild all configurations button, the click ok:

 

Of course if you had any rebuild errors, the configuration would show up in red.  Here are the resulting configurations:

 

So next time you have some configurations you want to create, think about giving this tool a shot.  I have been using it since I discovered it at a SolidWorks User Group Meeting, and its a definite time saver for me.

Comments

[Richard Klein]

I wonder what it would take for SolidWorks to use OpenOffice for tables?

[Martin Streat]

Hi, now we have an assembly file with all the configs what happens next. how do i get 5 different drawings with five different part numbers showing how it goes together in the five different sizes? this is where i dont understand. one piece of metal in one size is a part with its own number. it can not be one part number in five sizes. how do i give each part its own number and therefore when i create a drawing of that part all my template boxes fill out correctly? cheers Mart

[CNote98]

Looks like SW is finally putting something in place to remove Design Tables. Maybe a sign that it will become M$ independent and easier to port to another OS?

[John Matrishon]

liking the quick tips Mike! Was it my swug you saw it at, with my buddy Mike doing the presentation?? This will go in my 10 in 10 section at the next meeting!