Planar Mate

Mate two entities allowing translational movement along the X axis and the Y axis, and rotational movement about the Z axis (Ty, Tx, Rz).

Steps

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

1. Click .

   

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

   To supply an offset distance, check Offset and supply a distance. Planar Mates are able to offset the entities only along the Z axis.

   Offset distances are visualized in the graphics area as dashed lines between the Mates, displaying the value and the axis. Enter the distance in the dialog.

   When you click on a Mate, graphics are displayed to indicate the direction of the X, Y, and Z as defined by the Mate along with the offset and the range of limits dimensions (if any).

   Applying an offset should be viewed as moving the entire coordinate system. The offset is relative to the Mate connector selected first.

   You can also select to rotate the part about a specific axis: select the axis, then enter the degrees of rotation.

2. To limit the movement, check Limits and supply (optional) minimum and maximum values to control the range of motion of the mate.

   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.

   

3. Click the entity to access the manipulator.
4. Click and drag the various manipulator handles to see which motions are allowed; notice that only translational movement along the X and Y axis, and rotational movement about the Z axis is allowed (Ty, Tx, Rz).

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 Planar is selected in the Mate type field.
3. Select two Mate connectors (inferred or existing) to use.
4. Optionally, tap Offset to provide an offset distance.
5. Optionally, tap Limits to set distance limits for movement.
6. Optionally, tap to Flip the primary axis, Z orientation of the instances.
7. Optionally, tap to Reorient the secondary axis; rotate the quadrant orientation (in the XY plane) of the instances by 90 degrees at a tap.
8. Tap checkmark.

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

Steps

1. Tap .
2. Confirm that Planar is selected in the Mate type field.
3. Select two Mate connectors (inferred or existing) to use.
4. Optionally, tap Offset to provide an offset distance.
5. Optionally, tap Limits to set distance limits for movement.
6. Optionally, tap to Flip the primary axis, Z orientation of the instances.
7. Optionally, tap to Reorient the secondary axis; rotate the quadrant orientation (in the XY plane) of the instances by 90 degrees at a tap.
8. Tap checkmark.

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