STEPFILE.comFree, alpha release

Slot Mate

Keeps a pin inside a straight slot, on its center line, or at a set place along it.

When to Use It

  • Keep a bolt inside an adjustment slot
  • Make a slider ride in a track
  • Set a pin a fixed distance or percent along a slot

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 a face of the slot on one component. It shows as Slot face.
  4. Click the pin on a different component: a round face, a circular edge, an axis or a corner. It shows as Pin.
  5. Click Slot.
  6. Under Constraint choose Free, Center in slot, Distance along slot or Percent along slot. For the last two a value box appears.
  7. Click the green check.

Options

  • Free: the pin may go anywhere inside the slot.
  • Center in slot: the pin stays on the center line, between the two round ends.
  • Distance along slot: the pin is held that far along the center line. It starts at where the pin stands now.
  • Percent along slot: 0 to 100 percent of the slot length.
  • Flip dimension: measures from the other end of the slot (Distance and Percent only). The window picks the nearer end for you.
  • Use for positioning only and Make first selection transparent work as on the Standard tab.

Tips and What to Expect

  • The slot must be a straight slot. A curved slot is refused and the window says why.
  • The slot and the pin must be on different components, or it says "The slot and the pin must be on different components."
  • If the pick for the pin is not round or a corner, it says "The pin must be a round face, a circular edge, an axis or a corner."
  • A distance cannot be longer than the slot, and a percent cannot be above 100.
  • The tree shows the choice, for example Slot1 (Percent along slot 50%).

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

Found a mistake or something missing on this page? Tell us.