Assembly Practice Step by step instructions

Basics of Constraint Dialog Box Preview Solutions Surface or Edge Selectors Offset Mate Angle Tangent Insert Flush

Placing Grounded Part The base will be the first part placed into the assembly. This part will become the “grounded” part by default. You can identify a part in the browser as being the grounded part by the push pin icon.

Redefine Isometric Orientation Use the rotate tool in conjunction with common space tool to reposition the base into a more preferred isometric orientation. Then right mouse click and select Redefine Isometric.

Placing and Constraining the Rail Place Component and then browse for the rail. Position as indicated in the screen capture to the right. Apply a mate constraint between the two surfaces as indicated. Apply.

Applying the 1 st Flush Constraint Apply a flush constraint between the two surfaces as indicated. Apply.

Result of 1 st Flush Notice how the front of the rail is now on the same plane “flush” with the front surface of the base.

Applying the 2 nd Flush Constraint Before applying the 2 nd flush, use free rotate to rotate the assembly around so that the appropriate surfaces can be selected.

Applying the 2 nd Flush Constraint Select the two surfaces as shown and then apply the flush constraint.

Result of 2 nd Flush Constraint The rail is now fully constrained.

Constraining the Corner Piece Select Place Component and select the Corner piece and position it similar to the view to the right.

Applying a Mate to the Corner Piece Using the Mate constraint, select the two surfaces as indicated and Apply.

Result of Mate Notice how the corner piece has “flipped” over so that the two selected surfaces are now facing each other.

Applying the 1 st Flush Select Flush in the Constraint dialog box and then select the two surfaces as indicated. Apply.

Result of 1 st Flush Constraint Notice how the corner piece has rotated so that the two surface that were selected are now “lined” up.

Applying the 2 nd Flush Constraint Select the two surfaces as indicated to apply the 2 nd flush constraint and then Apply.

Result of 2 nd Flush Constraint The corner piece is now fully constrained. All DOF (degrees of freedom) have been eliminated.

Notice the Browser Info All applied constraints are added to the browser as they are applied. To edit a constraint, right click on the constraint and select Edit.

Constraining the Dowel Rod Select Place Component and then browse for the Dowel Rod. Position the Dowel Rod as shown.

Selecting the Edges for Inserting Pick the edges as indicated. Select the Opposed Solution. Enter the Offset of –2.

Result of Insert with Offset Notice that the dowel rod has “pushed” itself down into the base by a distance of 2”.

Applying a Tangent and Angle Constraint to the Can Select Place component and then Browse for the Can. Place the Can in the position indicated.

Applying the Tangent Constraint Select the surface of the can and then the surface of the base as indicated.

Result of Tangent Constraint The Can is resting on the surface of the base.

Applying an Angle Constraint to the Can Select the Angle constraint and then select the surfaces as indicated. Enter an angle of 45 degrees in what now is the Angle entry area rather than the Offset entry area.

Result of the Applied Angle Constraint Notice that the Can is now rotated in it’s orientation in reference to the front surface of the Base. Even though you have applied to constraints to the can, it is not fully constrained. The Can can be moved by “grabbing” it with your mouse and moving it.

Applying Constraints to the Top Select Place Component and Browse for the Top. Position the Top as shown to the right.

Mating the Top to the Base Eventually this top will be animated to act like a plastic hinge. Because of this, you need to selected EDGES not surfaces for this Mate. Select the two edges as indicated.

Result of Edge to Edge Mate Only the two Edges of the two parts are constrained together NOT the surfaces.

Now to Flush the Sides of the Top and Base Select the Mate constraint and then the Flush Solution. Select the Surfaces as indicated.

Result of Flush Notice that the Surfaces have now aligned themselves on the same plane.

Hinging the Top by Hand Using the Mouse Exit out of the Constraint Dialog Box and “grab” the top with the mouse button and move it back and forth.

Applying an Angle Constraint to the Top Select the two Surfaces as indicated, picking the top as the 1 st Selection and the Base as the 2 nd Selection. Apply

Result of Applied Angle Constraint Notice the top and base are now on the same plane, 0 degrees to each other.

Applying Drive Constraints (Animating the Top) Once constraints have been applied, they can be “Driven” to animate parts in an assembly. Click on the Plus Sign next the Top in the Browser.

Driving the Constraint Right mouse click on the Angle Constraint and select Drive Constraint. The Drive Constraint Dialog Box appears.

Expanding the Drive Constraint Dialog Box Select the >> “More” Button to view additional selections within this dialog box.

Expanded Drive Constraint Dialog Box Starting Angle Ending Angle Player Control Strip Record Button Increment- can be # of steps, degrees or inches Repetitions

Drive Constraint Values Enter the values as indicated in the dialog box to the right. Press play and see what takes place. Change the increments and the Start/End- Start/End /Start Radio Button

Animation This is how the animation should look. To record the animation, select the record button and follow the prompts. The animation will be saved as an.AVI file.

Degrees of Freedom This DOF symbol can be viewed on each part by right clicking on the part in the Assembly and select Properties. Select the Occurrence Tab and check the Degrees of Freedom check box.

Eliminating Degrees of Freedom With each constraint that is applied, one or more degrees of freedom are eliminated. A component is fully constrained when all degrees of freedom have been removed.