Mate two entities allowing rotational movement about the Z axis (Rz). Begin by creating Mate connectors on each entity, or use the implicit Mate connectors visible upon hover.

The Revolute mate allows you to mate two entities with rotational movement about the Z axis (Rz).

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

Click Revolute mate on the Assembly toolbar. Select the Mate connector on the instance to serve as the rotational point, in this case the polygonal pyramid. Next, select the Mate connector on the instance to serve as the stationary point, in this case the rectangular floor. If the pyramid is not oriented correctly to the floor, flip the primary axis and/or reorient the secondary axis.

Check Offset to offset the translation along the pyramid's Z axis and/or rotation about its X or Y axis.

To impose limits on the movement of the Mate, check Limits and supply minimum and maximum angle values about the Mate's rotational Z axis. Click the Animate button to animate the Mate's degree of freedom. Limits are visualized in the graphics area as dashed lines with arrows at the ends. The dashed lines represent the Mate rotation. If a Mate has a limit applied, the Mate limit indicator icon is visible in the Mate Features list.

Click the green checkmark to accept the new Revolute mate.

Steps

  1. Click Revolute mate feature icon.

    Revolute mate dialog

    2. The first Mate connector selected serves as the rotational point and the second Mate connector selected serves as the stationary point.

  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 Mate limit indicator is visible to the right of the Mate in the Mate Features list.

  3. To supply an offset distance, check Offset and supply a distance. Revolute Mates are able to offset the entities along the Z axis only. To create an offset between the two entities, click Offset and specify a distance.

    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.

    Offset of Revolute mate

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

  4. Click an entity to access the manipulator.
  5. Click and drag the various manipulator handles to see which motions are allowed; notice that only rotational movement about the Z axis is allowed (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.

    Mate dialog

  2. Click the Mate connector icon (Mate Connector feature 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:

Edit a mate connector from the Mate dialog

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

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

Revolute mate example showing two separate parts

Revolute mate example after the two parts are mated

Steps

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

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

Revolute mate example showing two separate parts

Revolute mate example after the two parts are mated