Creating a Mechanical Junction

You can create a mechanical junction of the required type based on the mechanical interfaces.

Before you begin: open a 3D part.
  1. From the Functional Tolerancing section of the action bar, click Mechanical Junction Creation .
  2. Under Characteristics, specify the following:
    1. In the Name box, enter the name of the mechanical junction.
    2. From the Type list, select the required type of the mechanical junction.

      For more information, see Types of Mechanical Junction.

    3. Click the required surface to specify it as a mechanical interface component for composing a mechanical junction.

      Alternatively, click to add the mechanical interface component.

      • A Mechanical Interface.X node is added to the tree under the geometrical set, Junction Set.X.
      • The options for defining the characteristics of a mechanical interface appears in the dialog box.
    4. Specify the required characteristics of the mechanical interface and click OK.

      For more information, see Creating a Mechanical Interface.

      • Under Positioning and Maintaining Geometry, all the surfaces involved in the mechanical interface components of the mechanical junction are displayed using specific colors.
      • The mechanical interface node is added under Mechanical Interface Component(s).
      • The feature type and the clearance type of this primary element appears automatically. If not, you can select it from the list.

        Click to specify the geometry canonicity and its feature of size. When you specify the canonicity or feature of size and the selected feature type is not applicable, an icon appears for invalid feature type. You can select the valid feature type proposed in the Feature type list.

      Notes:
      • If available, you can select previously created mechanical interfaces directly from the tree or the surface in the 3D area which belong to the required mechanical interface. In this case:
        • The options for defining the characteristics of a mechanical interface do not appear in the dialog box.
        • The predefined mechanical interface components appear under Positioning and Maintaining Geometry with colors.
      • If mechanical junction is considered, you can edit the feature type and clearance.
      • If several mechanical interface components are considered, the feature type and clearance are not displayed.
      • If one mechanical interface component is considered, the feature type and clearance are displayed but cannot be edited.
    5. Optional: Click to delete and the mechanical interface.
    6. Optional: Click to edit the mechanical interface.
  3. Click the required set in position type to refine the mechanical interface components based on their set in positions.

    You can also select the required surface at this step to create another mechanical interface.

  4. For the mechanical junctions of auxiliary and main block types, under Fractioned position Geometry:
    1. Select the check box next to the required set in position geometry type to fraction the corresponding geometries.
      Under Linked Junction(s), primary, secondary, and tertiary geometry nodes are added based on the selected check boxes.
    2. From the list, select the required junction with which the current mechanical junction is fractioned.
    3. Optional: Click to add another junction to fraction the current mechanical junction.
    4. Optional: Click to delete reqiured mechanical junction when multiple mechanical junctions are fractioned. When there is only one fractioned mechanical junction, clear the check box next to the required set in position geometry type to delete it.

    Note: When fractioned, the status Currently Fractioned suffixes the Fractioned position Geometry. By default, the status is Currently Not Fractioned.

  5. Under Positioning Constraint(s):
    1. From the list, specify one of the following constraints:

      • P(L): Applies the positioning constraints with least material condition
      • P(M): Applies the positioning constraints with maximum material condition
      • O(L): Applies the orientation constraints with least material condition
      • O(M): Applies the orientation constraints with maximum material condition
      • PO(L): Applies positioning and orientation constraints with least material condition
      • PO(M): Applies positioning and orientation constraints with maximum material condition
      • NoPos: Does not apply any positioning or orientation constraints
      • More: Applies the position and orientation constraints to the specific surfaces based on the set in type (primary, secondary, and tertiary). You can also select the Favorable clearance check box to consider the favorable clearance.

    2. From the list, select the mechanical junction with respect to which the selected constraint is to be applied.
  6. Specify the positioning constraints.
  7. Under More Characteristics, in the Description box, enter the information to be displayed when you hover over the mechanical junction node in the tree.

    The tooltip appears when the 3D Master Query from the View section of the action bar is selected.

The mechanical junction is created. If it is invalid, the mechanical junction icon changes to .

When you hover over the mechanical junction node in the tree, a tooltip displayed displays the reason for invalidity.