Tangent MateTangent Mate feature icon

 

Mate two entities tangent to the selected faces, edges, or vertices.

This functionality is available on Onshape's browser, iOS, and Android platforms.

ClosedTangent Mate: Desktop

Assembly toolbar with Tangent Mate feature icon highlighted

Mate two entities tangent to the selected faces, edges, or vertices.

Tangent Mates do not require or accept Mate connectors.

Example of Tangent Mate

Steps

  1. Click .

    Step 1 for using Tangent Mate feature

  2. Select a face, edge, or vertex of one entity. In this instance, a face of the box is selected.
  3. With focus in the second field in the Mate dialog, select a face, edge, or vertex of the second entity.

Tips

  • Tangent Mate doesn't support offset surfaces.
  • Flip primary axis works only when two faces are selected; for other selections it is ignored.
  • Only swept faces are supported (torus, cones, etc), no generic faces (like splines).
  • Tangent Mate does not work with any Relations.
ClosedTangent Mate: iOS

Steps

  1. Tap .
  2. Tap to select a face, edge, or vertex of one entity.
  3. In the dialog, tap on the second Face, edge or vertex field to activate it.
  4. Tap to select a face, edge, or vertex of one entity.
  5. Optionally, toggle to Flip the primary axis.
  6. Tap checkmark.

Below, both parts share a Planar Mate and the box is fixed in place. When the cylinder is dragged, it hugs the side of the box and follows the face all the way around:

Example of Tangent Mate

Tips

  • Tangent Mate doesn't support offset surfaces.
  • Flip primary axis works only when two faces are selected; for other selections it is ignored.
  • Only swept faces are supported (torus, cones, etc), no generic faces (like splines).
  • Tangent Mate does not work with any Relations.
ClosedTangent Mate: Android

Steps

  1. Tap .
  2. Tap to select a face, edge, or vertex of one entity.
  3. In the dialog, tap on the second Face, edge or vertex field to activate it.
  4. Tap to select a face, edge, or vertex of one entity.
  5. Optionally, toggle to Flip the primary axis.
  6. Tap checkmark.

Below, both parts share a Planar Mate and the box is fixed in place. When the cylinder is dragged, it hugs the side of the box and follows the face all the way around:

Example of Tangent Mate

Tips

  • Tangent Mate doesn't support offset surfaces.
  • Flip primary axis works only when two faces are selected; for other selections it is ignored.
  • Only swept faces are supported (torus, cones, etc), no generic faces (like splines).
  • Tangent Mate does not work with any Relations.

 

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Last Updated: June 03, 2020