Pro/Desktop allows the user to perform design studies by simultaneously maintaining multiple alternative design scenarios, called configurations. Configurations are preset changes to variables stored during the creation of design. After setting up configurations they will appear in a convenient pull down menu so the user can rapidly look at different configurations for the same design.

In this tutorial we will design a simple square nut. The nut will use design rules to make it conform with American bolt standards, then it will use configurations to supply a list of standard nut sizes. (see design rules tutorial for info on making rules)

• Start by drawing a simple square nut:
• Start a new design
• One the initial sketch, sketch a rectangle
• Select all for side and make them equal to each other using the equal length constraint
• Dimension one of the lines as 1 inch
• Draw construction lines from the center of opposite line. Note how a large dot appears when you are at the center of a line. Just connect up the centers, the right click and chose toggle to construction.
• Use the intersection of the construction line draw a circle in the center of the square
• Dimension the circle with a 0.75 inch DIAMETER! Dimension via diameter by pre-highlighting the circle, then click and dragging with the constraint tool.
• Reposition the axis to the lower left hand corner of the square.
• Workplane>Reposition Axis>Click on the lower left corner

• Extrude the completed sketch 0.5 inches
• Save the design as nut.des

The basic square bolt is now finished. (if you couldn't get it just download the nut design)

The bolt has 4 variables

For information on variable names see the Design Rules tutorial

Download the Square Nut Design File with out design rules

Download the Square Nut Design File with design rules already applied

The nut will now be made to conform to American nut standard. This will be accomplished by adding design rules. See the design rules tutorial on how to add rules.

D is the diameter of the bolt and/or bolt hole. So D for this design is base\diameter 1

Using the standard show to the right, input the following Design rules:

This means that only the diameter of the hole can be changed. The length and thickness will be driven by any changed to the diameter.

Could get it to work?
Download the Square Nut Design File with design rules already applied

Start creating a configurations by:

• Tools>Configurations

Creating configurations is a three step process:

1. Create a Family
2. Select Properties to change
3. Create configuration

A family is an organizational control to keep your configurations organized. Families can also inherent configurations from other families. This will be discussed in the Advanced Configuration tutorial

Selecting properties will allow the user to tell Pro/D which variables are going to be changed in the configuration

Finally when creating the configuration the user will tell Pro/D what the values will be of the variables selected for change

For the nut example we will only need one family so we will just use the initial family (no need to create a new family)

• Click the properties button

In the properties pop box you will have two lists. The variables available and the variables selected. This is where the decision is made as to what variables will be changed in the configuration. We want to change the hole diameter so:

• Select base\diameter 1 (hole diameter)
• Click the right arrow to move the base\diameter variable to the selected zone.
• Click OK

• Click the New Config Button

• Call the new config 0.25 Sq Nut

• Click OK

• Change the value of the base\diameter 1 variable to 0.25. Just click the number to change it.

Add another configuration

• Click the New Config Button

• Call the new config 0.5 Sq Nut

• Click OK

• Change the value of the base\diameter 1 variable to 0.5. Just click the number to change it.

You have successfully created two configurations. To see how they are used click OK on the configuration pop box

To chose a configuration, pull down the configuration menu selector in the top left hand corner of Pro/D (next to object browser select)

Click the Update button to get Pro/D to redraw after you have selected the configuration

You have completed the simple configuration command exercise. Configurations can also be used to create exploded and unexploded assemblies by varying the offset distances on Mate and Align commands. Check it out! Make an assembly and go to configurations.

Configurations are also at the heart of making animations. Try the animation tutorial

For great detail on making configurations try the Advanced Configuration Tutorial