iFeature placement

Insert iFeature places an iFeature in a part file on a work plane or a planar face.

An iFeatures is one or more features that you want to reuse in other designs. You can specify a feature name, set size, position parameters, and attach a Placement Help document.

The values in the Insert iFeature dialog box correspond to the Size Parameters and Position Geometry defined when the iFeature was created. You can edit the iFeature parameters and roughly position it before you insert it. When you place the iFeature, you select geometry on the part to position the elements listed in the Position Geometry list.

In the left pane of the Insert iFeature dialog box, a table icon identifies table-driven iFeatures. Table-driven iFeatures list available key parameters.

In the Application Options dialog box, iFeature tab, enable Use Key 1 as Browser Name column. Then the following displays in the browser:

• Name of the inserted iFeature.
• Key 1 name.
• Current value of the key.

You can select from the defined parameters to specify the iFeature instance.

The following helps to position an iFeature:

• Instructions entered in the Prompt box when the iFeature was created.
• If available, click Information on the Insert iFeature dialog box to open a document with information about placing the iFeature.

Placement flexibility and capturing design intent

As you become proficient at creating and using iFeatures, your features can become more complex.

In the Extract iFeatures dialog box, Position Geometry list, you can add reference edges that position the base feature sketch of the iFeature. Including reference edges captures more design intent, but requires that you position the iFeature in the same way it was placed originally.