Basic AssemblyBasic AssemblyConstraints & ConceptsConstraints & Concepts

Mate/Flush

Angle Tangent Insert

Assembly constraints are parameters that define the geometric relationships between components in a CAD assembly. These constraints include:

• 3 rotations around the X, Y, and Z axes.

• 3 translations along the X, Y, and Z axes.

A component floating in space has six degrees of freedom:

Degrees of freedom are systematically removed in an assembly until only the desired components are allowed to move.

• Constrains two faces, edges, points, or axis together.

• The red arrows represent normal vectors and point towards each other.

Mate ConstraintMate Constraint

Flush ConstraintFlush Constraint

• Constrains two faces or work features together.

• Normal vectors will point in the same direction.

Angle ConstraintAngle Constraint

• Constrains two faces or edges at an angle to one another.

• Normal vectors parallel to each other equal 0° angle.

Insert ConstraintInsert Constraint

• Constrains a cylinder flush into a hole.

Tangent ConstraintTangent Constraint

• Constrains a curved surface to a plane or another curved surface.

Base ComponentBase Component

• The first component placed in an assembly should be a fundamental part or sub-assembly, such as a frame or base plate, on which the rest of the assembly is built.

• The first component in an assembly file sets the orientation of all subsequent parts and subassemblies.

Grounded ComponentGrounded Component

• When the first component is placed in the assembly, its origin is coincident and aligned with the assembly coordinate origin.

• All degrees of freedom are removed from the first component.

• The base component will be grounded and should be left that way.

Patterning ComponentPatterning Component

• This function duplicates one or more components and arranges the resulting occurrences in a circular or rectangular pattern.

Replace ComponentReplace Component

• In the design process, one often needs to replace one or more components in an assembly.

• The new component is placed in the same location as the original component, but assembly constraints may be deleted in the process.

Editing ComponentsEditing Components

• When you double click on a component, you will exit the assembly environment and enter the part environment. The other components in the assembly will become translucent.

• When you are finished editing the part, you will exit the part environment and return to the assembly environment.

SubassembliesSubassemblies

• A group of components that are constrained to act as one component in a larger assembly.