Add Mate

You can position components relative to one another.

Note: Assembly models might contain solid bodies as well as components. The Mate can be accessed from the context toolbar and Assembly section of the action bar. Once a mate is created, you have the option to create multiple mates using Apply and continue.
  • You can add a mate between components.
  • You cannot add a mate between solid bodies.

This task shows you how to:

See Also
Types of Mates
Edit and Delete Mate
Deactivate and Activate

Add Mate Using Context Toolbar

You can add mate between assembly components to constrain them relative to each other.

  1. In the 3D area, click 'ctrl + geometry' (such as a face, edge, or vertex) from each of the components to mate.
    The context toolbar displays all mate types that are valid for the selected items.

  2. Click a mate type to preview the mate.

    For example, click Coincident .

    The components move to a position that satisfies the mate.

    In the dialog box, you can click other mate types to preview.
  3. Optional: Specify other options in the dialog box.
    OptionDescription
    Flip. Flips the alignment of the components. Available for mate types that have two possible alignments, such as coincident, distance, parallel, and tangent.
      Distance. Sets the value for a distance mate.


    		Reverse. Reverses the direction of the distance dimension.
      Angle. Sets the value for an angle mate.

    For example, click Flip .

    The bracket alignment flips but the selected faces remain coincident.

  4. Click Apply and Continue.
    The mate is added and is listed under Mate in the Design Manager tree.

    Note: The empty dialog box remains open to create more mates.

    Renaming Mate: You can rename the mate by, a slow double-click the name of the created mate, in the Design Manager tree.

Add Multiple Mate in a Single Operation

You can mate multiple components to a common reference in a single operation.

  1. In the 3D area, select the geometry to which you want to mate several other components.



  2. Click 'ctrl + geometry' on other components to mate.



    The components move to a position that satisfies the mate. In the dialog box, you can select options and click other mate types to preview.

  3. Click Apply and Continue.
    Adds a mate between the first component and each of the other selected components. In this example, two mates are added in the model and listed separately under Mate in the Design Manager tree.

    Note: The empty dialog box remains open to create more mates.

    Renaming Mate: You can rename the mate by, a slow double-click the name of the created mate, in the Design Manager tree.

Add Mate from the Action Bar

You can add mate between assembly components to constrain them relative to each other.

  1. Click the Mate from the Assembly section of action bar.
    The Mate dialog box appears.
  2. In the 3D area, click the geometry (such as a face, edge, or vertex) from each of the components to mate.
    You can see the selected components in the Mate dialog box.
    The Mate dialog box displays all mate types that are valid for the selected items.
    Note: The Mate from the Assembly section of action bar allows you to select only two geometries to mate at a time. When more than two geometries are selected the last two selections are considered to mate.
  3. Click a mate type to preview the mate.

    For example, click Coincident .

    The components move to a position that satisfies the mate.

    In the dialog box, you can click other Mate types to preview.
  4. Optional: Specify other options in the dialog box.
    OptionDescription
    Flip. Flips the alignment of the components. Available for mate types that have two possible alignments, such as coincident, distance, parallel, and tangent.
      Distance. Sets the value for a distance mate.


    		Reverse. Reverses the direction of the distance dimension.
      Angle. Sets the value for an angle mate.

    For example, click Flip .

    The bracket alignment flips but the selected faces remain coincident.

  5. Click Apply and Continue.
    The mate is added and is listed under Mate in the Design Manager tree.

    Note: The empty dialog box remains open to create more mates.

    Renaming Mate: You can rename the mate by, a slow double-click the name of the created mate, in the Design Manager tree.