Mating Call

15 Mar, 2004 By: Greg Jankowski

One of the advantages of designing in 3D is that you can assemble and analyze your product within a virtual prototype. SolidWorks software lets you create and use a functional assembly so that your design is the way you want it before you physically prototype a single part. This way you can quickly identify and correct mistakes before spending time and resources to create the actual parts.

When creating an assembly, you should keep two things in mind. The first is your assembly's structure. A flat structure with no subassemblies, though simple, is less flexible and demands more system performance. The second is a feature called a mate, which helps you create your virtual prototype.

A mate is a geometric relationship between two parts or subassemblies. Mates let components act and react like ones within an actual assembly. For example, if you want a door to open from 0

About the Author: Greg Jankowski

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