Distance Limit Mate
Lets a part move freely within a range of distances and stops it at either end.
When to Use It
- Limit a drawer to its travel
- Keep a slider between two stops
- Stop two parts from getting closer than a set gap
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 a Distance mate (flat faces, edges, axes or corners).
- Click Distance limit.
- Type a Maximum and a Minimum distance. The Distance box shows where the parts are now. Maximum starts at the current distance and Minimum at 0.
- Click the green check. If the parts are outside the range they are first moved inside it.
Options
- Maximum and Minimum: the largest and smallest distance allowed. At least one is needed, and the minimum cannot be above the maximum.
- Distance: the starting distance, kept inside the range.
- Mate alignment, Use for positioning only, Make first selection transparent as elsewhere.
Tips and What to Expect
- Between the two ends the mate takes away no freedom, so drag the part to try the range.
- At either end the part stops. The tree shows the range, for example DistanceLimit1 (0 in to 2 in).
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.