Mate connector for multiple parts

DriesV

Is it just me or would it be very useful to be able to assign a Mate connector (Part Studio environment) to multiple parts?

This would come in handy when doing motion studies in an Assembly of parts that were all modeled in the context of one and the same Part Studio. I could define a single Mate connector, assign it to e.g. a piston head and a cylinder, insert both parts in an Assembly and finally define the motion by adding a Slider mate referencing the Mate connectors in the parts.
Confession: I don't like picking arbitrary Mate connectors in the Assembly environment. It is not always predictable how model edits will influence the Mate connector alignment. I would much rather setup a single Mate connector, that is shared between two parts, in the Part Studio.

Dries

noa

You could currently add a Mat Connector to a single part, bring the whole part studio into an assembly, group the parts, then utilize the Mate Connector. Is this much different?

traveler_hauptman

@DriesV Not just you. I think this was discussed before at some point. @noa, grouping eliminates the whole point which is motion between parts that share the same mate connector.

DriesV

traveler_hauptman said:

@DriesV Not just you. I think this was discussed before at some point. @noa, grouping eliminates the whole point which is motion between parts that share the same mate connector.

Yes exactly.
And what would additionally be nice is the ability to define intended motion when creating the mate connector. So that when those parts are inserted in an assembly, they are automatically mated for motion defined in the Part Studio.

Dries

brucebartlett

There use to be a bug where you could pick multiple parts per mate connector when adding them in the part studio, but the connector would only be connected to 1 part (now you can only pick 1 part). I thought at the time it would be great if the connector was linked or copied to each part on the list so as they all had that connector when dropped into the assembly but only 1 feature in the part studio tree. 

@DriesV would defining the motion in the assembly be kinda like choosing the mate type you want to be the to the default for the connector when dropped in the assy.  At the moment when snap mating it defaults to a fixed mate do you imagine this would be defined in the part studio so you get the mate you want when it snaps?

DriesV

brucebartlett said:

...
@DriesV would defining the motion in the assembly be kinda like choosing the mate type you want to be the to the default for the connector when dropped in the assy.  At the moment when snap mating it defaults to a fixed mate do you imagine this would be defined in the part studio so you get the mate you want when it snaps?

Yes, exactly. That would be a great productivity booster.

Dries

lougallo

We have discussed it and I have an improvement for this.  This would be especially useful for any connection point that is drawn in a Part Studio and assembled.  I will add you all to it.

DriesV

lougallo said:

We have discussed it and I have an improvement for this.  This would be especially useful for any connection point that is drawn in a Part Studio and assembled.  I will add you all to it.

Excellent!

Dries

brucebartlett

DriesV said:

lougallo said:

We have discussed it and I have an improvement for this.  This would be especially useful for any connection point that is drawn in a Part Studio and assembled.  I will add you all to it.

Excellent!

Dries

Thanks Lou