About Component Interfaces
Component interfaces contain stored constraints or connections that are used to quickly place a component. After an interface is defined, it can be used whenever the component is placed in an assembly. Additional interface information, such as assembly conditions, can also be specified.
Predefined component interface templates can be used to define connections (predefined constraint sets). The assembly references are then selected from a predefined list. Constraints of a predefined interface cannot be removed, disabled, or added, and the types cannot be changed, however, selected references can be replaced.
You can create component interfaces in both Part mode and Assembly as features that appear in the Model Tree. There are three types of interfaces:
• Placing—Interfaces created in components used to place the component. They are identified by
in the Model Tree
FooterInterfaces folder. Placement constraints are visible whenever sets and constraints are displayed in the Model Tree. To move a placing interface from the
Footer folder and make it a feature in the component, right-click the interface name and select
Move from Footer from the shortcut menu. The interface is removed from the
Footer folder and can be dragged to a different location in the Model Tree. To return the interface to the footer, right-click and choose
Move to Footer. When a component has one or more placing interface, it will have a default interface.
• Receiving—Interfaces created in assemblies used to receive a component interface. They are identified by
in the Model Tree. To move the assembly interface to the
Footer folder, right-click and select
Move to Footer from the shortcut menu. A receiving interface cannot be set as a default interface.
• Either—Interfaces created in components that can be used as placing or receiving interfaces. A component with this type of interface will have a default placement interface.
Component interfaces can be defined as follows:
• To save a placement set as an interface, configure a placement set using the Component tab. Right-click in the graphics window, and choose Save as Interface.
• To configure an assembly placement interface click
Model >
Component Interface to open the
COMPONENT INTERFACE dialog box. Define conditions or rules to specify an assembly reference.
You cannot use Interface to Geometry placement to automatically place components if the interface contains the following constraints:
• Coplanar constraint with an edge reference
• Tangent
Configured interfaces are not visible in the graphics window. It is recommended to name interfaces that will be propagated to other places in the assembly. To set a feature note, right-click the interface in the Model Tree and choose Setup Note > Feature from the shortcut menu. The Note dialog box opens.
For more information on Notes, search the Help Center.
|  You can place components with predefined flexibility using interfaces. Define flexibility in the Varied Items dialog box before using the interface to place the component. |