Limitation of mate connectors - attaching only to the solid bodies

konstantin_shiriazdanov

In a broad sense mate connector in part studio is local coordinate system so why we need to have solid body in part studio to be able to create mate connector? For example if the only geometry we have in part studio are sketches and surfaces we can not perform transform of any surface, we can't attach mate connector to it and we can't use it with pre-defined mate connectors in assembly (if it is imported surface part for example). I'm propose to discuss if someone find it usefull to have the ability to work with mate connectors with any type of geometry (including sketches and 3d curves) witout being limited only by solid bodies.

bradley_sauln

You are close in your understanding of how they work. Looking at the help documentation will help to complete your initial definition. 

"Mate connectors are local coordinate system entities located on or between entities and used within a mate to locate and orient instances with respect to each other."

The qualifier here is that 'entities' include surfaces and sketches so what you are looking for is possible. 

EDIT: Re-read your initial post.. In a part studio, it has to be tied to a solid part because the mate connector is located with respect to that geometry. You can place custom mate connectors on a surface or sketch in an assembly. If you are using this for a template, you can create a sub-assembly and add your mate connectors (see below image).

konstantin_shiriazdanov

Hi @bradley_sauln, I know that we can use MC in the assembly with any type of geometry, but I'm talking about functionality of mate connectors in part studio - we can't attach it to something other than solid part, and we can't use part studio instruments refferencing mate connectors if solid part doesn't exist in it.

lana

@konstantin_shiriazdanov
You are absolutely correct. The functionality of coordinate system, which mate connector enables is wider than the Mate connector use in Onshape. We are looking to fix this, but there are some issues to be worked out.