Angle Limit Mate
Lets a part turn freely within a range of angles and stops it at either end.
When to Use It
- Limit how far a lid opens
- Keep an arm between two angles
- Stop a door at its stop
Step by Step
- Open an assembly (assemblies need the Pro plan) with at least two components in it. See Assemblies: Start and Insert Parts.
- Click Mate on the Assembly tab (or right-click a component and choose Assembly tools, Mate...), then click the Advanced tab at the top of the window.
- Click the first entity, then the second on a different component. They are picked as for an Angle mate (flat faces, edges or axes).
- Click Angle limit.
- Type a Maximum and a Minimum in degrees. The Angle (degrees) box shows the angle now. Maximum starts at the current angle and Minimum at 0.
- Click the green check. If the parts are outside the range they are first turned inside it.
Options
- Maximum and Minimum: 0 to 180 degrees. At least one is needed, and the minimum cannot be above the maximum.
- Use for positioning only and Make first selection transparent as elsewhere.
Tips and What to Expect
- Add a Hinge first, then an Angle limit, to make a door that swings only so far. A Hinge can also carry its own limits with Specify angle limits.
- The tree shows the range, for example AngleLimit1 (0° to 90°).
Common Problems
- Every button is grey. The picks do not fit any mate on this tab. The status line says what is missing, for example "Pick more entities." Remove a pick (click it again or press Delete in Mate Selections) and try again.
- "Collapse the exploded view to add mates." Mates cannot be added while the assembly is exploded.
- The Over defined prompt appears. The new mate conflicts with the ones already there. See Mates: Fixing Mate Problems.