STEPFILE.comFree, alpha release

Screw Mate

Makes a part advance along its axis as it turns, by the distance for one turn.

When to Use It

  • A nut on a lead screw
  • A jack screw
  • A vise screw

Step by Step

  1. Open an assembly (assemblies need the Pro plan) with at least two components in it. See Assemblies: Start and Insert Parts.
  2. Click Mate on the Assembly tab (or right-click a component and choose Assembly tools, Mate...), then click the Mechanical tab at the top of the window.
  3. Click the nut's round face, circular edge or axis on one component. It shows as Nut.
  4. Click the screw's round face, circular edge or axis on a different component. It shows as Screw. The two axes must line up on one center line.
  5. Click Screw.
  6. Type the Distance for one turn (the pitch, times the number of starts). It starts at a small value (1 mm).
  7. Tick Reverse for a left-hand thread.
  8. Click the green check.

Options

  • Distance for one turn: above 0 and at most 1,000,000 mm.
  • Reverse: left-hand thread.
  • Use for positioning only and Make first selection transparent work as on the Standard tab.

Tips and What to Expect

  • Axes that sit side by side are gears, not a screw. The axes must be on one line.
  • The window says "The two axes of a screw mate must line up (parallel)." when they are not parallel.
  • The tree shows the pitch, for example Screw1 (1.5 mm a turn, left hand).
  • Flip Mate Alignment is not available for this mate.

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.

Open the viewer

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