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Assemblies · Lesson 2: Mating faster

SmartMates, Multiple Mate mode, Mate References, Copy with Mates.

Lesson goal

Reduce the number of clicks needed to mate repetitive components.

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5 videos

✎

1 exercise

Intermediate

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Prerequisite: Lesson 1

1. Watch the videos

Dassault Systèmes videos hosted on MySolidWorks: they open in a new tab and a free account is enough. Watch them in order.

Mates: Smart MatesVideo 1▶Mates: Smart MatesCreate mates by dragging the component into place.↗ Mates: Multiple Mate ModeVideo 2▶Mates: Multiple Mate ModeMate several components to the same reference in one go.↗ Mate ReferencesVideo 3▶Mate ReferencesPrepare frequently used parts so they mate automatically.In French↗ Mates: Copy with MatesVideo 4▶Mates: Copy with MatesDuplicate a component with its mates by choosing the new references.↗ Adjusting MatesVideo 5▶Adjusting MatesEdit distance, angle and limit values.In French↗

2. Key takeaways

1

SmartMates (Alt key while dragging) infer concentric and coincident mates.

2

A Mate Reference saved in the part makes it mate automatically when inserted.

3

Copy with Mates reproduces a setup and only asks for the new references.

Tip

Add Mate References to your library parts (screws, bearings, cylinders): every user can then assemble them with a single drag and drop.

3. Do the exercise

On an assembly with several identical screws:

  • add a Mate Reference to the screw
  • insert six of them at once into the holes
  • copy a subassembly with its mates
✓To check: The six screws are fully constrained without a single mate entered by hand.

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