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In this video, I am going to show you how easy and convenient
it is to work with content libraries.
Most drawings, just like this differential, are full of standard parts.
Now imagine you had to draw them all by yourself!
But with AutoCAD Mechanical you don't have to worry about that.
In the content library you can choose from several thousand pre-drawn standard parts
and features.
Now let's see how to work with them.
First I want to insert a roller bearing here. Libraries for frequently used standard parts
like roller bearings have shortcut buttons.
You can search for your part, browse through the folders or navigate by clicking on the
images. Just as you like it best.
I pick this Needle Roller Bearing and select the front view.
By the way, can you see the little green cross in the image?
This point will be congruent with the insertion point.
You will find a cross like that for all parts in the content libraries.
I go on and I pick the insertion point on the shaft contour followed by the centerline
of the shaft.
Then I use the dimension of the shaft to specify the inner diameter, the outer diameter and
the width... one final click to place it and we're done.
Now whenever you want to insert a part the sequence of prompts and dialog boxes will
always be very similar to the one you've just seen.
If you want to make any changes to the bearing, simply double click it and the dialogue box
pops up again.
AutoCAD Mechanical always checks first if the requested part actually exists as a standard
part.
Let me give you an example. When I only change the outer diameter to 20mm, AutoCAD Mechanical
lets me know that there is no such standard bearing.
As a last step I copy the bearing and paste it onto the other shaft. I use the "AMPOWERCOPY"
command -- and not the standard copy paste command- as it also copies the part reference.
This behavior comes in really handy when you want to create a Parts List later.
Apart from various individual standard parts you can also insert entire screw assemblies
by using just one single command. Let's see how it works.
This is where I want to insert the screw connection.
I start the screw connection wizard from the ribbon.
It lets me select all the parts I need for the screw connection one by one.
I start with selecting a screw and choose to insert the front view.
On the right the wizard tells me which dimensions are available. Watch how the options narrow
down while I pick the parts.
I next select a through hole for the first section...
...and I go on with adding another hole of the same type for the second section.
Finally I choose a nut.
When I select the diameter of the screw --I go for an M8 thread- the dimensions of the
wholes and the nut adapt accordingly.
Now I'm ready to insert the screw connection in the drawing.
I mark the length of the two holes; then AutoCAD Mechanical calculates the length of the bold
and draws the screw connection.
Now let me show you something very handy.
Let's say I want to delete the screw connection.
I click the "Erase" button on the home tab and select the screw connection.
Note how the surroundings heal automatically!
Now take a look at the tooltip. The button doesn't call an AutoCAD command. It calls
the "AMPOWERERASE" command instead, which is special to AutoCAD Mechanical.
This command knows about mechanical objects in the drawing and cleans up the surroundings
when you erase one.
Next I generate the top view of this screw and place it here.
I start the "AMPOWERVIEW" command from the ribbon, I select the screw, specify what view
to generate and then I place it. I copy the view to the three other places I have marked
using the "AMPOERCOPY" command. The result will look like this.
So far we entered all the special libraries by clicking on shortcuts.
To browse through all available libraries in one panel click the "Content Libraries"
Button.
By expanding the tree, you can navigate to the part and view you want to insert.
You can also create your own content or use your company's parts library. Simply add it
to the custom content section.
For more Information about that check out the AutoCAD Mechanical Help.