Creates an alignment constraint that associates two components or shells in the active part/assembly.  You can choose from six constraint conditions (Coincident, Tangent, Concentric, Parallel, Perpendicular or Angle).  Refer to the Required and Optional Inputs below.  When you are done defining the 2nd entity (see below) you can middle-click to finish or continue by selecting the 1st entity of an additional constraint.  For shells, you can only middle-click.

 

The Pick Filter for this command allows edges, curves, faces or datum planes for selection.  With these combinations you can create a wide range of constraint conditions.  Refer to the Notes section below for a matrix of the supported 3D constraint conditions and a few examples.  You are encouraged to experiment with these options to find the right combination of constraints for your components.  Also refer to the required and optional inputs below for this command.

 

Align Components

A concentric constraint is illustrated here consisting of the components (a) and (b) above.  The resulting animation and final constraint is shown.

 

 

Required Inputs

 

1st entity

Select a curve, edge, face or datum of the first component or shape to align with or middle-click to cancel the command.  You can also pick and drag a component prior to selecting this first entity.  This is useful if the entity is hidden from view.

 

Selecting the 1st Entity

 

2nd entity

Select a curve, edge, face or datum of the second component or shape to align to.  In the absence of other constraints, the first selected entity moves to the second entity. Offsets are measured from the second entity (since it is normally

the anchored entity). This is true for all geometric combinations.

 

Selecting the 2nd Entity

Coincident Constraint

 

 

Optional Inputs

 

This options form is context sensitive.  This means that only the constraint options that can apply to the 1st and 2nd entity selections (see above) will remain active.  Refer to the Notes section below for a matrix of supported 3D constraint conditions and a few examples.

 

	Creates a coincident constraint.  The components will remain coincident (i.e., share the same curve, edge, face or datum plane).  The Offset option is supported (see below).
	Creates a tangent constraint.  Supports the Offset option (see below).
	Creates a concentric constraint.  Supports the Offset option (see below).
	Creates a parallel constraint.
	Creates a perpendicular constraint.
	Creates an angular constraint.  Complete the Angle option (see below).

 

 

Offset

Use this option to specify an offset distance.  The constraint will apply as well as this offset.  Used with the coincident, tangent and concentric constraints (see above).

 

Angle

Specifies the angle of the constraint.  Used only with the Angle constraint (see above).

 

Same facing/Opposite

If faces or datum planes are selected for the 1st and 2nd entity inputs above, select Same facing to force an alignment where the faces or datum planes are facing the same direction.

 

Display existing alignments

Check this box to toggle the display of existing alignment constraints for the active component.

 

Interference

You can drag a component during the first pick of adding the constraint.  Select the 1st entity as described in the Required Inputs above and then hold the left mouse button down to drag the component.  The following interference options are available.

 

• None - Do not check for interference when dragging a component.

• Highlight - When you drag a component, it will pause when interference is detected and the intersecting faces will highlight. Both open shapes and components can be checked.  If you are moving one part in a mechanism and another part interferes, that is also detected.

• Stop at - This is similar to the Highlight option above but the component is stopped at the point of intersection. No interference detection is performed during part regeneration.  The types of interferences that are detected and stopped include:
  
  Embedded vertex - Vertex on one part is embedded with that of another part.
  Edge/Edge - Edges cross, but vertices are not embedded.
  Embedded Edge - The middle of an edge intersects in the middle of a face.

 

 

 

 

• Add constraint - This is similar to the Stop at option above but a constraint is automatically created based on the interference detected.  The new constraint will be echoed and the selected faces will remain the same as long as the two parts interfere.
  
  To get a different constraint, back out of the drag and approach the part from a different direction. When finished dragging, release the component and the proposed constraint is ready to be edited, accepted, or cancelled.
  
  Dragging to add constraints is also available on the "<middle-click> to finish" prompt.  Dragging while on this prompt will automatically accept the currently proposed constraint and start another one.

 

Anchor Component

This option is only displayed when Edit Align is executed during Object Editing of a component (i.e., right-click on a component).  It allows you to toggle the anchoring of the component.

 

 

 

The component is anchored in its current position and will not move when the constraint system is solved.  Select the component to anchor. If the component is already anchored, this command will remove the anchor.  The status of the component is indicated in the message area.

 

 

 

A constraint associated with a component is deleted from the constraint system.  Select the component and then the constraint to delete.  You can middle-click to delete all constraints associated with the component.  The message area will indicate the total number of constraints deleted.

 

 

 

Simultaneously solves the system of constraints.  Middle-click to execute the command.

 

 

 

This command edits the alignment constraints of a component.  An options form similar to the Align Components command is displayed listing its alignment constraints.

 

The first constraint is activated by default.  You can redefine it using the Required and Optional inputs in the form or select another constraint from the list.  All changes made with this command are saved as a feature.  See Align Components above for more about each option.

 

 

 

Use this command to drag a component through its DOF (degrees of freedom).  First select a point on the component to move.  Then move the cursor and watch as the component moves freely about or along those axes that are not constrained.  Note that a fully constrained component will not move.

 

You can also use this command to test the total freedom of a constraint system within a linkage-type assembly or to reposition a component after it is inserted but prior to placing any alignment constraints on it.  Selecting a "To point" will execute a move for all affected components.  You can undo the command if desired.

 

 

Optional Inputs

 

• Interference - Refer to the Align Components command above for this option.

• Relaxed solution - If you check this box, VX will attempt to solve the assembly constraints with an alternate different algorithm that may find a solution when the default algorithm will not. In exchange, the "Relaxed" algorithm will be slower and possibly less accurate, though still solve within tolerance.

 

 

 

Use this command to inquire about the current alignment status for a component.  The form provides options to cycle through all of the components in the active assembly.  Each component is highlighted in the graphics window when its alignment status is displayed.

 

Among the information is whether the component is fully constrained, under or over constrained.  If the component is under constrained, the number of DOF (degrees of freedom) is listed as well as the directions the component can still translate or rotate.

 

 

 

 

 - Coincident

 - Tangent

 - Concentric

 - Parallel

 - Perpendicular

 - At Angle

 - At distance (from tangency/coincidence/concentricity