To Place Insert Constraints in Assemblies

Use the Constrain command or Assemble command to place an Insert constraint. An Insert constraint places a planar and axial mate as a single constraint between selected cylindrical faces or edges. For example, use an Insert constraint to position a bolt in a hole. The bolt is free to rotate, but is constrained plane to plane and axis to axis.

To begin, place the components to constrain in an assembly file.

Use Constrain to place Insert constraints

1. On the ribbon, click Assemble tab Relationships panel Constrain .

2. In the dialog box, under Type, click Insert constraint .

3. Select the first arc or circle edge. If necessary, click First Selection to enable the selection. Use Select Other to cycle through geometry.

4. Select the second arc or circle edge to constrain to the first selection. If necessary, click Second Selection to enable the selection. Use Select Other to cycle through geometry.

5. Enter an offset value, if applicable.

6. Click Opposed or Aligned to reverse the direction of the constraint.

7. Optionally, select Lock Rotation to lock the rotational degrees of freedom on a component. This option prevents the part from rotating when placing an insert constraint . A lock icon displays in the graphics window when placing an Insert constraint with Lock Rotation selected. By default, the lock icon no longer displays after closing the Place Constraint dialog box.

   Tip: To view the lock icon in the graphics window after closing the dialog box, click Assemble Relationships panel Show. Once displayed, you can right-click the icon, and access options for suppressing, and other edit operations.
   Note: Lock Rotation is not available when creating an iMate definition. Lock Rotation is only available when creating an Insert constraint or editing an iMate result.

8. Click the More button to change the name the constraint or set limits.

   • In the Name box, enter a constraint name, or leave blank and a default name is automatically created.

   • Check Maximum and enter a value to specify the maximum limit position.

   • Check Minimum and enter a value to specify the minimum limit position.

   • Check Use Offset As Resting Position and enter the required value in the Offset value box to specify the resting position.

     Clear the check box to remove limits. Values are retained in an inactive state.

9. If Show Preview is selected, observe the effects of the applied constraint. If either component is adaptive, constraints are not previewed.

10. Do one of the following:

    • Click OK to create the constraint and close the dialog box.
    • Click Apply and continue to place constraints.

To use Assemble to place Insert constraints

1. On the ribbon, click Assemble tab Relationships panel Assemble .

2. Select an arc or circle edge on the component that changes position.

3. Select an arc or circle edge on the component that remains in position.

4. Enter an offset value, if applicable.

5. Change the solution from Insert-Opposed to Insert-Aligned to reverse the direction of the constraint.

6. Do one of the following:

   • Click Apply and continue to define constraints.
   • Click OK to create the constraint and exit the Assemble command.
   • Click Undo to delete the selections and continue to define constraints.

• Temporarily turn off visibility before you place a constraint. Click in the browser to select a component, right-click, and then select Visibility.
• To restrict selectable geometry to a specific part, select Pick Part First in the dialog box, and then click the component you want to constrain. Clear Pick Part First to restore normal selection mode.