How do you use and animate mates?

Deeya_Parekh

I'm a beginner, and I am trying to animate multiple parts into one shape. I have them all assembled, but how would I animate/mate them together? Sorry if that doesn't make sense

MichaelPascoe

You have to mate them all together first, which is sounds like you may have done. Next add relations between the mates with either the linear or gear relation. Finally, right click one of the mates and select animate. 

Rhett_Robinson

Only one mate can have animation in Onshape, so for multiple things to move you will need to add relations between the mates you want animated like Michael said. If you are able to share your document we could look and see what you are trying to accomplish.

rick_randall

If you are trying to assemble parts into one unit (that doesn't really move)- just use mates in the assembly tab (think of as gluing them together).

If you are trying to make parts in the assembly move - you need to first use the right mates to give you the correct motion, then click on one mate and choose "animate" from the flyout menu, from the command box set up how you want your model to act, then hit the play button. If you did things correctly, then you will see the model start to move. If you are having trouble setting up your mates, I suggest you bone up on mates, and degrees of freedom (DOF) in the help sections.

Hope this is useful, and good luck.