Add mate connectors to more than two parts

francois_carletto

Dear team, I would try to create a single drawing for all parts of a structure assembly. To do that i create new assembly with part all on a flat surface using the planar mate feature. Is there anay way to apply planar mate to more than two parts? Imagine : Clic on planar mate and clic on all part one after other and the all fall on the same surface.
See the pictures,

From assembled 


To flat, observe the number of mate feature to do that... Why not only one?


Thanks for your answer.

romeograham

There are two Custom FeatureScripts that can help you:
Mate Connector at Origin: this allows you to create a Mate Connector for each part at the origin....in a single feature: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/7a2aca223858e21747087f1c/v/d06b9de45deb6bba4211204a/e/36a983633c3f3c601fd50add

Multi Mate Connector: allows a MC to be shared by several parts (might be closer to what you need): https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5d8da63844bedebe5cff72b1/v/cfcff754d7bed39f9aca3ea6/e/11dcab8f665add80b9aced0a

Good luck!

NeilCooke

Planar mates should only be used in exceptional circumstances. It is a very “SolidWorks” way of creating assemblies. Use fastened mates with offsets (if required). 

mahir

Sounds like @francois_carletto is talking about something like a multi-mate in SW - mating multiple parts to the same "ground" part. Instead of running the mate command 16 times with 32 clicks, half of which would be the same MC over and over, he'd rather have 16 clicks (or is it 17?)

john_mcclary

You already get to use 1/3 of the  mates you would otherwise use  in SW. What more do you want 
jk jk

But seriously, You can mate similar parts then copy/paste those parts to reduce the amount of clicks.

For instance, mate your corner leg with the gussets, copy, paste 3 times, now you just effectively inserted 12 parts and 8 mates, but only added 2 mates by hand.