Ball Mate

Mate two entities allowing rotational movement about the X, Y and Z axis (Rx, Ry, Rz).

Begin by creating Mate connectors on each entity, or use the implicit Mate connectors visible upon hover.

Steps

1. Click .

2. Select two Mate connectors (inferred or existing).

   

   Be aware that you can select only the center of the ball.

The first Mate connector selected (inferred or existing) serves as the rotational movement point and the second Mate connector selected (inferred or existing) serves as the stationary point.

3. To set the limits of motion, check the Limits box:

   

   Limits are visualized in the graphics area as dashed lines with bars at the ends. The dashed lines represent the direction and distance of the movement and the solid lines represent the limit.

   If a Mate has one or more applied limits, the Mate limit indicator icon is visible to the right of the Mate in the Mate Features list.

4. In the field that appears, shown above, enter a rotational degree of movement to indicate the maximum movement from the Z axis.
5. Click the entity to access the manipulator.
6. Click and drag the various manipulator handles to see which motions are allowed; notice that only rotational movement about the X, Y and Z axis is allowed (Rx, Ry, Rz).

When using the manipulator to drag a part to visualize motion, if a limit is defined, it is shown in the graphics area and you cannot drag past that limit:

Editing a Mate connector

Once an Mate is created between two explicit or implicit Mate connectors, you can edit either Mate connector:

1. Open the Mate dialog. In the example below, the Fastened mate is used as an example. The process is similar for all Mates, except Tangent mate which does not use Mate connectors.

   

2. Click the Mate connector icon (). The Mate connector dialog opens, where you can edit the mate connector's origin type, origin entity, alignment, location, primary axis direction, and secondary axis orientation:

Editing Mate connectors from the Mate dialog is limited to implicit or explicit connectors located in the current Assembly. Mate connectors from Part Studios, subassemblies, or linked documents must be edited in their original location.

Steps

1. Tap .
2. Confirm that Ball is selected in the Mate type field.
3. Select the two Mate connectors (inferred or existing) to use.
4. Optionally, tap to Flip the primary axis, Z orientation of the instances.
5. Optionally, tap to Reorient the secondary axis; rotate the quadrant orientation (in the XY plane) of the instances by 90 degrees at a tap.
6. Optionally, check the Limits box to limit the degrees of motion:

   In the field that appears, enter a rotational degree of movement to indicate the maximum movement from the Z axis.

7. Tap checkmark.

Touch and drag OR use the Triad Manipulator to move one of the parts. Notice that only rotational movement about the X, Y, and Z axis is allowed (Rx, Ry, Rz).

Steps

1. Tap .
2. Confirm that Ball is selected in the Mate type field.
3. Select the two Mate connectors (inferred or existing) to use.
4. Optionally, tap to Flip the primary axis, Z orientation of the instances.
5. Optionally, tap to Reorient the secondary axis; rotate the quadrant orientation (in the XY plane) of the instances by 90 degrees at a tap.
6. Optionally, check the Limits box to limit the degrees of motion:

   In the field that appears, enter a rotational degree of movement to indicate the maximum movement from the Z axis.

7. Tap checkmark.

Touch and drag OR use the Triad manipulator to move one of the parts. Notice that only rotational movement about the X, Y, and Z axis is allowed (Rx, Ry, Rz).