In ZW3D, there are several kinds of different libraries such as part library, material library, sheet metal library, weldment library, and fastener library, and so on. These libraries offer a vast range of pre-defined elements and resources that can be quickly accessed and used in your design projects, helping to streamline the design process and ensure accuracy.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to effectively use the Part Library in ZW3D, which covers the following key steps: first, how to create the Part Library, then how to use and manage the parts within your design to improve your design workflow, and finally, how to import your custom parts into the library.
A Part Library is a collection of pre-defined, standardized components and parts, such as bolts, screws, bearings, and other commonly used mechanical elements, which can be easily accessed and inserted into designs. In ZW3D, this library helps streamline the design process by providing ready-made parts that can be customized and integrated into your projects.
ZW3D provides a built-in standard parts library that allows you to quickly find and reuse commonly used mechanical components. Follow the steps below to open the Standard Parts library:
Step 1: Click the File Browser button located at the bottom-right corner of the interface.
Step 2: In the panel, switch to the Reuse Library tab.
Step 3: Navigate to the ZW3D Standard Parts folder, then browse and select the required standard components for your design.
As you can see, there are different standards. The details are as follows:
| Category | Meaning | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ANSI | American National Standards Institute | Standards used primarily in the United States, covering dimensions and specifications for mechanical components. |
| DME | DME (Die & Mold Equipment) Standard | Common standards for mold components, widely used in injection mold design (e.g., ejector pins, mold bases). |
| FASTENERS | Fasteners | Includes common fastening components such as bolts, nuts, screws, and washers. |
| GB | Guobiao (Chinese National Standard) | National standards of China, widely used in domestic manufacturing and engineering projects. |
| ISO | International Organization for Standardization | International standards recognized globally, ensuring compatibility across different countries. |
| TOOLS | Tooling Components | Includes standard tool-related components used in manufacturing or machining setups. |
| UNI | Italian National Standards (Ente Nazionale Italiano di Unificazione) | Standards used in Italy, mainly applied in European mechanical design contexts. |
Before adding a part to the library, you must first define a configurable part with key parameters and optional custom parameters. When adding library part, the designer chooses the needed part by choosing the key parameters and defining the custom parameters.
Based on the defined configurations, the first step of library design is setting key parameters.
Step 1: Open the config table.
Step 2: Right click the configured item, then check “Key” option. Set “S”(Size), “Pitch”(Thread Pitch) and “D”(Diameter) as key parameters. The default order of key items depends on the definition order. In here, the required order is D-Pitch-S. Note: Click “Manage key items” button to adjust the order if required.
Step 3: Set the descriptive name for the key items.
Step 4: Click “Apply” button of config table to save these settings.
If some parameters value could be customized by the user, this attribute also should be defined in the config table.
Step 1: Define the “Length” parameter as the custom parameter, as shown in the image below.
Step 2: Click “Apply” button of config table to save the setting.
Step 1: Go to Tool Ribbon Toolbar→ Open part table, all part onfigurations data is automatically loaded.
Step 2: Select one image as the legend of this library part. If it is not defined, the default legend of Z3 file will be used.
Step 3: Click “Apply” button to save the setting.
If the designer doesn’t want to create part library based on configuaration data, he/she could define library data by excel file.
Step 1: Go to Tool Ribbon Toolbar→Insert→Open config table→define the default part configuration.
Step 2: Set the key or custom parameters.
Step 1: Go to Tool Ribbon Toolbar→open part table→select “Data from excel” the option.
Step 2: Click “Yes” button to generate a new empty excel file in the same file folder.
Step 3: Add all data manually in the excel file. All parameters name and formats must be correct.
This way begins with the empty excel file. It’s easy to make mistake since of spelling or format mistakes to cause the failure of library definition. So the recommendation is to start with the default configuration.
After defining the part parameters, you can add the part into the Part Library Manager by organizing it into a library folder. Follow the steps below to create a new library and add your parts:
1. Open the File Browser and switch to the Reuse Library tab. Click ZW3D Standard Parts > Create New Library (the “green plus” icon).
2. Right-click, select Create a new folder, and give it a name for easy identification.
3. Save the file (you can also use the shortcut Ctrl + S) to a location that is easy to access.
4. Click the library you created, right-click it, and select Open Source Folder. Place your configured Z3 part files into the selected library folder. Return to ZW3D and refresh the library view if needed. Then you can browse the library and select the part to insert into your design.
After defining the library, we could insert and manage the library part in any file.
Step 1: Go to Tool Ribbon Toolbar→Part Table→add the file folder into the library manager. In this manager, some standard parts are provided, such as ANSI, DME standard parts.
Step 2: Select the z3 file and part model. All parameters are displayed in this table for preview.
Step 3: Click “OK” button, then a new dialog pops up. According to the requirement, select the key parameters or set the custom parameter, then click “OK” to insert the library part.
Step 4: By default, the instance is inserted as a component into the current file. And the instance part is created in the current file.
Settings Parameters:
● Click the icon like a pencil to rename the instance name.
● Create the instance in a new file: when this option is checked, the instance part is created in a new file, as shown in the image below.
● Insert the instance as a shape: when this option is checked, the instance is inserted as a shape into the current file.
Step 1: Open the File Browser→create a new library or specify the folder that you have the custom parts library files for the new library folder.
If you create a new folder in step 1, then place the parts you want to access into the newly created parts library folder to enable parts reuse.
To access the new part library in ZW3D, just click on the "App-TraceParts" tab on the Ribbon panel or simply go to tracepartsonline.
Here users will easily find the ZW3D-TraceParts community offering over 100 million 3D CAD models & 2D drawings, including both industry standard parts and products from hundreds of manufacturers’ catalogs used by the tooling, machinery, aerospace and automotive industries.
After adding or modifying parts in the Part Library, it is generally not necessary to restart. For most updates, simply refreshing the Part Table or reopening the current file will allow the updated parts to appear in your design. If you encounter display issues or parameters do not update correctly, you can close and reopen the Library Manager to refresh the library.
There are no strict limitations on the number of parts you can add, but it's recommended to maintain an organized structure within your library to avoid performance issues in large projects.
The Part Library in ZW3D is a powerful tool that can significantly streamline your design process by offering easy access to pre-defined, standardized parts. With the ability to add custom components, configure parameters, and integrate parts into your designs, ZW3D's library system helps you save time, increase accuracy, and enhance collaboration. Whether you're working with standard components or creating a fully customized library, this feature provides the flexibility and efficiency needed for modern engineering projects. By mastering the steps outlined in this guide, you can leverage the full potential of the Part Library to improve your workflow and deliver high-quality designs faster.
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