Creating Engineering Connections

You can create engineering connections between 3D parts to position parts in an assembled product.

An engineering connection is a collection of one or more constraints that restrict the relative degrees of freedom between two 3D parts. Certain combinations of constraints create predefined engineering connection types. If combinations do not correspond to a predefined type, a user-defined engineering connection is created. For more information, see Assembly Design User's Guide: Engineering Connections.

Before you begin: Select the parent structure level containing the two 3D parts.
See Also
Finishing the Assembly
  1. Select geometric elements from two different 3D parts.
  2. In the context toolbar, click Select .
  3. Select the type of constraint you want to apply from the vertical toolbar.

    The following geometric relationships and 3D dimensions are available:

    Fix
    Contact
    Perpendicularity
    Parallelism
    Angle
    Distance (or offset)
    Coincidence

    A tooltip upper right informs you that an engineering connection is created, and the corresponding constraint symbol displayed. In the image below, a Contact constraint symbol .

    • If an engineering connection exists between the two 3D parts, the new 3D constraint is added to the existing engineering connection.
    • If the new 3D constraint is redundant and over defines the product, it is not created.
  4. Optional: To edit the constraint you have just created, click the constraint symbol and do one or more of the following:
    • Select the constraint mode: driving , measured or controlled .
    • Select the constraint orientation for one or both 3D parts: undefined , same , opposite or parallel .
    • Select De-activate to de-activate the 3D constraint.
    • For angle and distance constraints, change the value.

    Tip: To show callouts identifying connected 3D parts and context toolbars when editing engineering connections, select Display in geometry area in Me > Preferences > Mechanical > Natural Assembly.