If you haven t downloaded the file, you can create a screw just like this one by clicking on the FASTENERS Icon.

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2 Mechanical Objects & Features Tips & Tricks 46 Users often overlook some important options when using the fasteners, features, and structural shapes that can be automatically generated by KeyCreator. I ve illustrated a typical cap screw, pocket, and channel to the right. Let s take a look at some options that you should be aware of when using these handy items. We ll be working with some typical examples that you can create from scratch. They are also available for download in file ObjectsAndFeaturesTipsTricks46. If you have downloaded the file, click on the TOGGLE SPLITTER Icon Turn off levels 3 and 4 in the display. This will leave just the screw visible. If you haven t downloaded the file, you can create a screw just like this one by clicking on the FASTENERS Icon. Then, click on the SOCKET Icon. Click on the Fast Setup Tab. Make sure there is a check on the Create as a Fastener Object Option. This particular screw is a long. Almost any screw will do. Just make sure to check the Solid Option. To see the threads also check the detail option.

3 Now, click again on the SOCKET Icon. Click on the Fast Setup Tab. Remove the check on the Create as a Fastener Object Option. Click on the OK Button and place a second screw to the right of the first screw. (To get the orientation you need a CPlane set to 1.) Your screen should now look like this: Let s assume that you wanted to use this screw to make a custom fastener. Click on the EXTRUDE FACE Icon. A Dialog Box appears. Type 0.25 for the Length and hit the ENTER Key. If you try to select the top face of the left screw you get the following message. If you select the top face of the right screw, the face bumps up without a problem.

4 Switch to the Front View. (View 2.) For the next operations you want your construction plane set to the Drawing View, so Click on the CP=DV to remove the Cplane from the top, right corner of your viewport. Click on the CREATE HORIZONTAL LINE Icon. Using the Cursor Option, place a line on the screen that crosses the smooth section of the shank on the screws. (You could use the AlongE Function to accurately place the line on the screw at a given distance. We don t have to sell this sucker, so that s not necessary for this exercise!) Now, click on the TRIM FIRST Icon. Click on the bottom portion of the left screw and the following error message appears. Click on the bottom portion of the right screw and then on the line, and you chop the top off of the screw! So you ll want to remember that if you plan on modifying a fastener made in KeyCreator, you want to create it without the check on the Create as a Fastener Object in the Setup Tab.

5 If you have already created a fastener with the Create as a Fastener Object Option checked, you can still get around the protection. Let s do this with the left screw. Click on the GENERIC BURST Icon. Then, click ONCE on the left screw. Now try the operations that didn t work before and you ll see that they now function! You can take a moment to delete the second screw that you created. Then, click on the TOGGLE SPLITTER Icon. Remove level 2 (The screw) from the display and turn on level 3. (The block with the slot.) Switch to the Isometric View. Your screen should look like this: Now this block was created with Create as a Feature Object checked. If you need to make your own, start with a primitive block and create a slot using the TOOLS/FEATURES/POCKET/SLOT Tool. Click on the DYNAMIC FACE Icon Select the left curved wall of the pocket and hit the ENTER Key. If you drag the blue vector on the DynaHandle, you can change the slot length. (The new Dynamic Functions override the protection on the slot geometry.) Exit the function without accepting the change. Then, switch to the top view. (View 1.)

6 Click on the XFORM BOX-MOVE Icon. Drag a selection box around the left half of the slot and block. Select the XYZ Option Type 1 for the X value and hit the ENTER Key three times. Notice that the block stretches but the slot does not. Now, click on the GENERIC BURST Icon. Then, move the cursor over the slot and click ONCE on it while it is highlighted. You ll find that you can now use the XFORM BOX- MOVE Function to stretch the slot. When you are done, click on the TOGGLE SPLITTER Icon and remove level 3 (The slotted block.) from the display and turn on level 4. (The channel.) Switch to the Isometric View. (View 7.) Your screen should look like this: If you need to make your own channel, click on the TOOLS/STRUCTURAL/CHANNEL Icon

7 This channel was also created with protection on it. So if you try to use an EXTRUDE FACE Operation on it or trim it in an orthogonal view with a line that crosses it, you ll get nowhere. The XFORM BOX-MOVE Function will also fail. If the channel had been created with the check removed from the Create as a Mechanical Element Object Option, these operations would work. Click on the GENERIC EDIT Icon. Then, click ONCE on the channel. You ll find that the operations listed above will not perform their magic! Before we call it a day, let s do one last thing. Click on the TAPPED HOLE Icon. Select a ½ hole. ThroughType, UNC series thread and make sure you select the Solid Option. Then, click on the OK Button.

8 Click on the channel. With a CPlane established on the front face of the channel, use the TwoPos Option and then, using the CtrMid Option, click on the front left edge and the front right edge of the channel. You will now have tapped holes in both legs of the channel. Make a simple layout of the channel with top, front, right and isometric views. Click on the AUTOLABEL Icon. The exact specifications for the tapped hole are read from the database and a detailed feature label is created for you.