Connect Component

The connect process enables you to orient components with respect to each other in an assembly. By adding constraints you can move the components into desired positions in the assembly.

General Interaction

The following is the Feature Guide for Connect Component.

Required Step 1 : Pick the component entities to be connected. These can be edges, faces, vertices and UCSs. Edges, faces and vertices can be selected in any combination.

Required Step 2 : Set the connection options by defining constraints. Each connect constraint is valid for a specific type of geometry. Only those constraints that are valid for the selected components are available. These constraints (Connect Relations) include Coincident, Concentric, Parallel, Perpendicular, Tangent, Angle, Distance and UCS parameters. Other kinds of constraints (Alignments) are Align and Anti-Align.

Optional Step 1 : Set the coordinate system rotation parameters. This option is only available when positioning a component specific UCS (User Coordinate System) to another component specific UCS, or a face or plane.

Optional Step 2 :Pick the UCS origin. This option is only available when positioning a component specific UCS (User Coordinate System) to another component specific UCS, or a face or plane.

Connecting Components - Detailed Interaction of All Options

Connect Relations

• Coincident: Position the selected components so that they touch.

• Concentric: Position the selected components (cylinders) so that they share the same center point.

• Parallel: Position the selected components so that they are orientated in the same direction.

• Perpendicular: Position the selected components so that they are perpendicular to each other.

• Tangent: Position the selected components so that one component is tangent to the other (at least one entity must be a cylindrical surface).

• Angle: Position the selected components at the specified angle to each other. If a cylinder is selected, the angle is measured to its axis.

• Distance: Position the selected components so that they are separated by a specified distance. If a cylinder is selected, the distance is measured to its axis.

• UCS Parameters: Position a component specific UCS (User Coordinate System) to another component specific UCS or to a face or plane.

Alignments

• Align: position the selected components so that the normal vectors for the selected faces point in the same direction.

• Anti-Align: position the selected components so that the normal vectors for the selected faces point in opposite directions.
• Natural Alignment: position the selected components either aligned or anti-aligned, depending on which condition can be satisfied with the least movement.
  This is the default alignment and enables you to change the relation between the normal vectors. This means that you are not limited by any future constraints when adding a new connect relation.