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Mating a part from One Sub-Assembly to Another Part in a Different One

Question asked by Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011
Latest reply on Mar 17, 2011 by Scott McFadden

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Really never remember experiencing this. I know you can edit parts within the

context of an assembly with it creating external references, but does anyone know

of a way to mate a part that is inserted into one sub-assembly to another part that is

in the assembly next level assembly? Basically this part in the sub assembly would

be fully defined using mates that cross over into 2 assemblies.

I am thinking this is not possible, short of using distance mates and giving it the look

as though it is mated like I described.

But I thought I would throw it out to you guys for thoughts or to see if there is a way.

Jeremiah Feist Mar 17, 2011 12:19 PM

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so, it sounds like your part C is not yet fully defined in sub B, correct? then you need to set sub B to solve as "flexible" in Assy A. then you should be able to add the mate successfully.

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Hardie Johnson Mar 17, 2011 11:27 AM

I guess I just don't understand the problem. :-)

You can mate two subassemblies together in an overall assembly, or add a subassembly to another, creating a more complex assembly. When I do this I mate the surface (or planes) of one part to another part. Sometimes I mate to objects at the assembly level.

The parts are not going to move around independantly in their subassemblies, of course.

(Unless you designate that subassembly as "Flexible" in which case you are on your own!

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Hardie Johnson Mar 17, 2011 11:30 AM

Re-reading, maybe I missed the point?

When I want a part in one subassembly to be defined by features of a part in another, related subassembly, I create a sketch in the upper level assembly to drive the other features.

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Scott McFadden @ Hardie Johnson on Mar 17, 2011 11:50 AM

Hardie,

I know about matig one sub assembly to another on in an upper

level assembly. What I am talking about is if I have sub assembly B

inserted in to top level assembly A, I want to mate part C which is part of sub assembly B

to a part that is called out in top lever assembly A.

I hope this makes sense.

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Hardie Johnson @ Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011 12:05 PM

Adding a mate like that will succeed unless the upper level part and the subassembly have been fully defined; one or the other must be able to move to satisfy the mate.

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Jeremiah Feist @ Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011 12:19 PM

so, it sounds like your part C is not yet fully defined in sub B, correct? then you need to set sub B to solve as "flexible" in Assy A. then you should be able to add the mate successfully.

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Scott McFadden @ Jeremiah Feist on Mar 17, 2011 1:07 PM

Thanks Jeremy,

Are you talking about floating the sub assembly versus fixed?

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Wayne Tiffany @ Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011 2:51 PM

No, in the Properties box of the sub in the assy, check the box for Flexible rather than Rigid. This offers the opportunity to solve the sub mates at the upper level. But this also brings that overhead to the upper level, so use only when really necessary.

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Scott McFadden @ Wayne Tiffany on Mar 17, 2011 3:06 PM

Got it Wayne. Thank you.

Thank did what I was looking to do.

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Kelvin Lamport Mar 17, 2011 12:24 PM

Are you receiving an error message when you try to add the mate?

Do you have the Tools > Options > System Options > External References --- Allow multiple contexts for parts when editing in assembly option checked?

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Scott McFadden @ Kelvin Lamport on Mar 17, 2011 1:29 PM

Thanks Kelvin,

No I wasn't getting any error until I did checked this.

Before I checked it I was able to select the one surface in the top

level assembly, but it wouldn't allow me to select the surface of the

part in the sub assembly. With this mating being done in the top level assembly.

After I checked this, it allowed me to select both surfaces, but then came back with

an error message saying both components were already fully defined.

I have never used this selection before and I thought it was a great suggestion.

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Hardie Johnson @ Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011 2:55 PM

[quote]After I checked this, it allowed me to select both surfaces, but then came back with an error message saying both components were already fully defined.[/quote]

Yup. Suppress the mates (or float it) of one of the subassemblies so it can move according to your new conditions.

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11 Replies

Hardie Johnson Mar 17, 2011 11:27 AM
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I guess I just don't understand the problem. :-)
You can mate two subassemblies together in an overall assembly, or add a subassembly to another, creating a more complex assembly. When I do this I mate the surface (or planes) of one part to another part. Sometimes I mate to objects at the assembly level.
The parts are not going to move around independantly in their subassemblies, of course.
(Unless you designate that subassembly as "Flexible" in which case you are on your own!
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Hardie Johnson Mar 17, 2011 11:30 AM
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Re-reading, maybe I missed the point?
When I want a part in one subassembly to be defined by features of a part in another, related subassembly, I create a sketch in the upper level assembly to drive the other features.
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- Scott McFadden @ Hardie Johnson on Mar 17, 2011 11:50 AM
  Mark Correct
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  Hardie,
  I know about matig one sub assembly to another on in an upper
  level assembly. What I am talking about is if I have sub assembly B
  inserted in to top level assembly A, I want to mate part C which is part of sub assembly B
  to a part that is called out in top lever assembly A.
  I hope this makes sense.
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  - Hardie Johnson @ Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011 12:05 PM
    Mark Correct
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    Adding a mate like that will succeed unless the upper level part and the subassembly have been fully defined; one or the other must be able to move to satisfy the mate.
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  - Jeremiah Feist @ Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011 12:19 PM
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    so, it sounds like your part C is not yet fully defined in sub B, correct? then you need to set sub B to solve as "flexible" in Assy A. then you should be able to add the mate successfully.
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    - Scott McFadden @ Jeremiah Feist on Mar 17, 2011 1:07 PM
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      Thanks Jeremy,
      Are you talking about floating the sub assembly versus fixed?
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      - Wayne Tiffany @ Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011 2:51 PM
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        No, in the Properties box of the sub in the assy, check the box for Flexible rather than Rigid. This offers the opportunity to solve the sub mates at the upper level. But this also brings that overhead to the upper level, so use only when really necessary.
        
        WT
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        Scott McFadden @ Wayne Tiffany on Mar 17, 2011 3:06 PM
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        Got it Wayne. Thank you.
        Thank did what I was looking to do.
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Kelvin Lamport Mar 17, 2011 12:24 PM
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Are you receiving an error message when you try to add the mate?

Do you have the Tools > Options > System Options > External References --- Allow multiple contexts for parts when editing in assembly option checked?
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- Scott McFadden @ Kelvin Lamport on Mar 17, 2011 1:29 PM
  Mark Correct
  Correct Answer
  Thanks Kelvin,
  No I wasn't getting any error until I did checked this.
  Before I checked it I was able to select the one surface in the top
  level assembly, but it wouldn't allow me to select the surface of the
  part in the sub assembly. With this mating being done in the top level assembly.
  
  After I checked this, it allowed me to select both surfaces, but then came back with
  an error message saying both components were already fully defined.
  
  I have never used this selection before and I thought it was a great suggestion.
  Like • Show 0 Likes0
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  - Hardie Johnson @ Scott McFadden on Mar 17, 2011 2:55 PM
    Mark Correct
    Correct Answer
    [quote]After I checked this, it allowed me to select both surfaces, but then came back with an error message saying both components were already fully defined.[/quote]
    Yup. Suppress the mates (or float it) of one of the subassemblies so it can move according to your new conditions.
    Like • Show 0 Likes0
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Mating a part from One Sub-Assembly to Another Part in a Different One

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