Replicate assembly components with rotation

adamohern

I have a bearing secured with two fasteners, and I need to add 32 instances of this subassembly to a mounting plate. Replicate works for a single mate, but not for a component requiring two mates like this one.

What would be the best way to approach this without manually mating each bearing?

noa

@adamohern is it possible to post a public link? My first instinct would be to make a subassembly out of the bearing and then try replicating the subassembly.

If that doesn't work, I would create a circular feature pattern of mate connectors at the part studio level, then go into snap mode.

adamohern

Thanks @noa, sorry it's not a public document. I'm currently using a subassembly for the bearing and trying to replicate it. It works, but the rotation is wrong, since it can only take a single mate into account.

In this case, I ended up brute-forcing it by adding the first eight bearings manually, then doing a circular pattern to match the hole pattern. Still, it would be nice to know of a better way.

lougallo

@adamohern probably best to use patterns today.. 

abefeldman

@adamohern if you reduce the number of mates between the subassembly and the plate to one (maybe reorient a mate connector in the hole?) you should be able to replicate along the radial patterns for one of the pattern instances which you could then use a circular pattern for. It's not as fast as doing all of them at once with a single Replicate, but will still be faster than mating 8 individually.

If you share the document with support I can show an example.

adamohern

I admit I'm finding mate connectors to be a real hassle. I understand the theory of using explicit locators as datum elements for mating, but the actual user experience of creating, modifying, displaying/hiding, and making use of the connectors to be cumbersome and confusing. The theory is good, but the implementation could be a lot cleaner.

If I could I would simply create mate connectors in the sheet metal plate at the original hole pattern instance, and then include it in the patterns that create the holes. I imagine mate connectors could be included in any kind of pattern, including body, face, and feature patterns. This way I could include mate connectors with the proper orientation for each hole.

owen_sparks

Couldn't you replicate using a mate positioned in the center of the rectangular cut outs?  That way the orientation will be preserved.

Owen S.

adamohern

owen_sparks said:

Couldn't you replicate using a mate positioned in the center of the rectangular cut outs?  That way the orientation will be preserved.

Owen S.

The thought had occurred to me, but for some reason at the time I didn't think it was practical. Thinking through it with fresh neurons it seems plausible. I'll look into it. Thanks!

abefeldman

Good news! Mate connectors can be patterned in the part studio with a feature pattern. Place one on the sheet metal hole in the part studio and you should be set.

adamohern

abefeldman said:

Good news! Mate connectors can be patterned in the part studio with a feature pattern. Place one on the sheet metal hole in the part studio and you should be set.

Notice in your image that the mate connectors are not oriented correctly.

adamohern

Also, since there is currently no "sketch driven pattern" in Onshape, I can't actually use feature patterns. Instead, I had to rely on a combination of manual Transform features and the "Point Pattern" FeatureScript feature, neither of which support mate connectors.

abefeldman

You can reorient the mate connectors using a sketch and then pattern the sketch as well to orient the mate connectors properly, but you're right without the other features to support it afterwards it's a bit of a moot point.