Page 158 - Mastering SolidWorks
P. 158
|
Creating a Simple aSSemBlY 127
Figure 4.16
Creating a new assembly
The first part you put into an assembly is always automatically fixed, meaning it does not
move. Any other parts you put in have no constraints or mates, unless you add them using Smart
Mates or Mate References, as explained in more detail in Chapter 14, “Getting More from Mates.”
Examining Mates
Mates work very much like sketch relations, but they work in 3D space, and they relate edges,
faces, vertices, or different types of reference geometry to one another. They do this in order to
position and orient parts with respect to one another, but also to allow for motion when a part is
dragged with the cursor. Common mates are coincident and concentric—again, just like sketch
relations.
Mates are not just for positioning parts, but are also used to establish design intent in
the assembly.
Figure 4.17 shows the assembly FeatureManager with several components and some mates.
