ball'n roller bearings FAQ

This page should be read in conjunction with the SolidWorks documentation. Please refer to the following topics:
- Feature Palette
- Smart Mates
- Geometric Mates
- Library Features
- Design Tables

i. After installation, none of the parts show up in the Feature Palette™!

A: Ensure SolidWorks is pointed at the library directories, by following the instructions in the READ-ME.txt file.

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ii. Why not install the parts in the SolidWorks default Feature-Palette?

A: Keeping the library away from the actual SolidWorks installation makes it more robust, should you have to re-install, move or otherwise manipulate the SolidWorks installation itself.

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iii. Sometimes when I open an assembly containing IDEAL-PARTS, SolidWorks asks me to browse for a library-part manually!

A: Under no circumstances should you move the library or any of its components after you have started using it in assemblies! Although SolidWorks will prompt you to browse to the new location, this can be fairly tedious!

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iv. I didn't move the library, yet SolidWorks still prompts me to browse for the file!

A: SolidWorks sometimes "loses" the drive letter which precedes the name and location string. Instead of browsing from the working directory all the way to <install_drive>/Program Files/nuts'n bolts/<etc>, check if the <install_drive> is missing from the front of the file path ion the "OPEN" window.

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v. The bearings don't show up correctly when sectioned in 2D.

A: You have to ensure that the section plane runs through the rolling element. This usually requires an additional mate - aligning the bearing to the section plane.

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vi. After continued use, the size of the library files keeps growing - why is that?

A: When the files are originally installed, only the surface information of the active (default) size is contained in the file for 'featherweight' viewing. As more and more configurations are activated - and saved - more and more surface information is included in the file. While this increases file-size, it also speeds up regeneration as more and more surface info is already contained in the file and does not have to be recalculated.

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vii. How can I reduce the size of the library-files?

A: For day-to-day file optimisation, the UNFRAG routine (see the link on the download page), should be run at the end of each day (or week). This reduces file-size by "internally defragmenting" the data within the file. We have found this product to be perfectly stable. A detailed description is included on the linked download page.

To get the size of the files down to absolute minimum, open the file in SolidWorks, go to Save-as and precede the filename with an X eg xACBB.sldprt will be saved as xACBB.sldprt. Go to the file in Windows® Explorer and remove the X by renaming the file (in our example back to ACBB.sldprt).

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viii. I have an old assembly, and the library has been moved since then, prompting me to manually browse to the new directory. How can I avoid this?

A: When an assembly is being signed-off for production, it is a good idea to copy all the required parts into that directory. SolidWorks will always look in the directory of the currently open assembly for any parts, before looking outside. Look in the user guide on how to find referenced files and copy them into a new directory. The idea is to end-up with a self-contained directory.

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ix. Isn't copying the parts against the licencing agreement?

A: Not if the part-files are kept with an existing assembly, within which they are used. This gives the option of assigning custom materials, sizes and properties to files without affecting the original part in the library. You cannot use these copied parts to create a new assembly, that would be a breach of the licence agreement.

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x. Why is the bearing weight in the Mass-Properties window slightly different from the Mass(kg) option in the Config-Properties, Custom Window?

A: The properties in the Configuration-Properties window are the correct ones. The bearings are modelled with hollow rolling elements for proper 2D reproduction. Parts catalogues miss out on some data as well. A fictitious material is assigned to give the parts an approximate weight for quick calculations. This suffices for all but the most weight-sensitive applications.

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xi. The housing-abutments sometimes don't line up with the bearing housing.

A: There is no accurate data on bearing-housing's non-critical dimensions. The abutment dimensions in the Configuration-Properties window are correct and should be used for reference purposes.

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xii. We use a bearing supplier whose suffixes differ from the ones supplied in the library to denote seals and shields.

A: Bearing suppliers know the different manufacturers nomenclatures, so this is not a problem in the majority of cases.

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xiii. I would like to change the suffixes used to denote seals, shields etc to match our suppliers details.

A: Open the design table in Microsoft Excel (Edit, Design Table) - make sure you have "Edit design table in a separate window" option in Tools, Customise turned on, pick Replace (in the Excel toolbar), type eg DDU and replace with eg 2RS and click the Replace All button. This should propagate the change throughout the table. Click Save/Update and Close and return to. You might have to close the SolidWorks file after editing and reopen it to propagate the change. As the configuration name has changed, you will be prompted with "<X> configuration no longer exists in design table, delete?", fortunately the YES button is the default selection and you might have to press ENTER a few times... this is slow but safe. The fast, but potentially dangerous, way of doing this is to rename the current configuration to, say 'XX', select the rest of the configurations and delete them, THEN edit the design table. Don't forget to delete the 'XX' configuration after the new table is inserted.

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Can't find the answer here? Contact us at support@ideal-parts.com for a prompt response!