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Mating parts at their surfaces?

I'm currently working on a project and for some reason I am struggling to fasten four cylindrical pins to a plate in the exact position I have placed them in assembly. If I try to fasten it to the surface it moves to points on the surface which are not the desired location. How can I get them fastened in the specific position desired? I can attach the link if needed.

Best Answers

  • MichaelPascoeMichaelPascoe Member Posts: 2,814 PRO
    Answer ✓

    Hey @Caroline_Bowers, a link will be helpful. Usually some well placed mates or sketches will help with mates, but it's hard to tell for this specific instance without a link.


    RENDERCAD
    rendercad.ai - Photorealistic product rendering.

    ▚▞▚▞▚▞▚▞▚
    ________________________________________________________________________
  • martin_kopplowmartin_kopplow Member Posts: 1,298 PRO
    edited December 2023 Answer ✓
    It is hard to tell without looking at the model, but in general, if you want something to be at an exact location somewhere on a face, you should consider creating means to precisely define that location, like sketch points on said surface, or like the offset of a mate connector, or such. Usually there are features that interact with the pins, like holes to push them into.
    Most faces will e.g. provide a mate in their middle, so you could use that or a deliberate corner point to position each of your pins on. They will all hop to that location first, but don't let that disturb you, because you can then define X/Y offsets for each pin in their respective mate dialog, to position them, wherever you want them. You could also position only one pin and create a pattern to bring the others in, in case they were identical.

    Example: 


Answers

  • MichaelPascoeMichaelPascoe Member Posts: 2,814 PRO
    Answer ✓

    Hey @Caroline_Bowers, a link will be helpful. Usually some well placed mates or sketches will help with mates, but it's hard to tell for this specific instance without a link.


    RENDERCAD
    rendercad.ai - Photorealistic product rendering.

    ▚▞▚▞▚▞▚▞▚
    ________________________________________________________________________
  • martin_kopplowmartin_kopplow Member Posts: 1,298 PRO
    edited December 2023 Answer ✓
    It is hard to tell without looking at the model, but in general, if you want something to be at an exact location somewhere on a face, you should consider creating means to precisely define that location, like sketch points on said surface, or like the offset of a mate connector, or such. Usually there are features that interact with the pins, like holes to push them into.
    Most faces will e.g. provide a mate in their middle, so you could use that or a deliberate corner point to position each of your pins on. They will all hop to that location first, but don't let that disturb you, because you can then define X/Y offsets for each pin in their respective mate dialog, to position them, wherever you want them. You could also position only one pin and create a pattern to bring the others in, in case they were identical.

    Example: 


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