Naming and matching iMates

What's New: 2023

Many parts are used repeatedly in assemblies, always fitting with other components in the same way. You can identify many parts such as plates, housings, rods, flanges, and fittings that you use commonly.

You can create iMates after you create a part. You can infer them automatically when creating or editing hole features or extrude and revolve features with closed-loop circular edges. You can also infer iMates from components constrained in an assembly.

An iMate captures one half of the assembly constraint intent and stores the iMate definition with the part file. When iMates are connected in an assembly, the constraints are solved automatically ( iMate results ). Individual iMates can be grouped to form a composite iMate so that several constraints are placed simultaneously. When you place two components in an assembly that have matching iMates, they know how to position themselves relative to one another.

Establishing a matching list

Names and properties are used to match iMates. The matching procedure has two phases:

Find matching iMate definitions based on the name and matching list (iMate definition properties must also match in addition to the name).
If the first phase fails to match, find matching iMate definitions based on properties. It can result in iMate definitions being matched that do not have matching names.

When placing a component in an assembly that already has a component, the names higher in the list take priority over names lower in the list. Sometimes several potential solutions are available. In that case, you can create a matching list in the Create iMate or the iMate Properties dialog box to indicate how to position the component.

The priority depends on the order of the names in the list. You can change the order of the names so that the name the current iMate can match first is at the top of the list

Naming iMates

Usually, you create an iMate in each of the components that you want to assemble. When you create an iMate, a default name is assigned according to the constraint type (for example, iFlush:1, iAngle:1), unless you create a name. At any time, you can rename iMates by right-clicking an iMate in the browser and selecting Properties. Clearing the iMate name reverts it to the default name.

When you create a name when creating the constraint or renaming, provide meaningful names that follow a common naming standard for replacement components. For example, to identify the geometry, rename Mate1 to Axis1, and a secondary iMate named Mate2 could be renamed Face1.

When you place a component in an assembly and select the "Automatically generate iMates on place" option, Inventor matches iMates between components that have the same iMate type and the same offset or angle value.

When you replace a component with another that has the same iMate type, and offset or angle value, the constraint relationship remains intact.

Create matching lists of possible matches. Use Up and Down arrows in the iMate Properties or Create iMate dialog boxes to move names in the list. When multiple possible match solutions exist (based on type and offset/angle value), the top name in the matching list is given priority for matching.

Note: To achieve a successful match rate for iMates, use unique names for composite iMates as well as the individual iMate members within the composite.

Matching iMates to other iMates

You can move names in the Matching List with Up and Down arrows in the iMate Properties or Create iMate dialog boxes. The top name is given priority for matching.
When placing a component, in the Open dialog box, select Interactively place with iMates or Automatically generate iMates on place to match iMates with the same name.
If a single iMate with a matching name is not found, the component is attached to the cursor and you can select a placement position.

If matching a composite iMate, each composite iMate must also have the same number of members.
The ALT-drag shortcut can match iMates. Drag one component by a specific iMate glyph, and then drop it onto a like iMate glyph on another component.
The Assemble tab Position panel Constrain command matches iMates when you click matching iMate glyphs, and then click Apply.
If an iMate with matching constraint type and value is found, the components are constrained together. Names and order are not considered.

Composite iMates cannot be matched using this method.

Matching composite iMates

Match names are available for composite iMates as well as single iMates. You can match two components with insert iMates, but they also require flush iMates to position faces. In this case:

The two components must have the same number and type of single iMates.
Each must match the name at the top of the matching list of the other component.
For example, Composite A must name Composite B as the first match name, and Composite B must name Composite A as the first match name.
The composites must have the same number and type of single iMates.
All the single iMates must have a matching iMate in the other component.
In the example, Composite A and Composite B must each have an insert and two flush iMates to position the components fully.

The order of the members in composite iMate definitions is also imported and must be identical in each half of the composite iMates being matched.

Defining multiple iMates in a part

You can define many iMates in a single part. Before you define them, determine which iMates are the most important. Establish a matching list when creating iMates.

If a custom name is not specified, Autodesk Inventor first matches iMates to names in the matching list, or by using the default name. Then, it follows the browser order to solve iMates in sequence.
If you must change the sequence in which iMates are matched, use the Up and Down arrows to change the sequence in the matching list. If there are multiple instances of the name at the top of the matching list, all are matched before trying the next matching list name. Name takes priority over property.
You usually change the order of iMate names so that composite iMates that fully position a component are solved before single iMates.

In the Place Component dialog box, you can select either Interactively place with iMates or Automatically generate iMates on place. Autodesk Inventor attempts to connect the iMates of the placed component. If the first name does not match, all the names in the matching list are considered in order.