MyDriveWorks - Tech Tips
This Project demonstrates how to insert and mate a component using Generation Tasks and how to use looping to insert multiple components.
The Create Concentric Mate Generation Task will create a Concentric Mate, in an Assembly, between two Components using a named Face or an Axis.
A Concentric Mate cannot be made between two Axes (SOLIDWORKS limitation).
Also a Temporary Axis cannot be used in a reference.
The references must be made between either:
File Names used in Mate References
We strongly recommend that File Names of components being mated do not contain a . (dot).
For example:
Bracket.LeftHand
If this cannot be avoided ensure the Windows Explorer setting to show File name extensions is applied on each machine that generates models.
Please see Info: SOLIDWORKS System Options - Windows File Explorer for more information.
| Property Name | Description |
|---|---|
| (Name) | The unique name for this task. |
| Aligned | The alignment type (TRUE = Aligned, FALSE = Anti-Aligned) |
| Lock Rotation | Locks the rotation (TRUE = Locked, FALSE = Not Locked). The default is FALSE |
| Position Only | Does not apply the mate (TRUE = Position Only, FALSE = Apply Mate). The default is FALSE |
| First Reference | The name of the first reference mating face or axis |
| First Reference Type | The type of the first reference.
This is either Axis or NamedFace. Cannot be Axis if the Second Reference Type is Axis. See Naming A Face for instructions on naming a face in SOLIDWORKS. |
| Second Reference | The name of the second reference mating face or axis |
| Second Reference Type | The type of the second reference.
This is either Axis or NamedFace. Cannot be Axis if the First Reference Type is Axis. See Naming A Face for instructions on naming a face in SOLIDWORKS. |
When this task is added the properties are both static and dynamic by default. See How To: Change A Static Property To A Dynamic Property to enable rules to be built on these properties.
| Property Name | Example Rule | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Aligned | TRUE |
TRUE set Alignment type to Aligned. FALSE would set this to
Anti-Aligned.
For more information about Mate Alignment see Mate Alignment in the SOLIDWORKS Help file. |
| Lock Rotation | TRUE | TRUE will Lock the Rotations not allowing the Component to rotate. FALSE will allow the Component to rotate. |
| Position Only | FALSE | FALSE will apply the Mate. Making this property TRUE will just place the Components but will not Mate them. |
| First Reference | "RunningFace@Axle " &DWSpecification&"-1" | Will use RunningFace that exists in the generated component Axle MyProject 9999 with the instance number -1.
To reference an entity in a component that is multiple levels deep see Referencing Faces and Planes. |
| First Reference Type | NamedFace | NamedFace is the type of reference. Choice of NamedFace or Axis. |
| Second Reference | "CentralAxis@Bracket " &DWSpecification&"-1" | Will use CentralAxis that exists in the generated component Bracket MyProject 9999 with the instance number -1.
To reference an entity in a component that is multiple levels deep see Referencing Faces and Planes. |
| Second Reference Type | Axis | Axis is the type of reference. Choice of NamedFace or Axis. |
This Task can be added to the following Generation Sequence(s):
The following Generation Tasks are available to create other mate types:
The following topic shows how to create Named Faces and gives information on how references are structured for entities of varying levels of depth.
This Project demonstrates how to insert and mate a component using Generation Tasks and how to use looping to insert multiple components.
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