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Table Of Contents
406 | Chapter 16 Assembling Parts
Assembling Parts
After parts or subassemblies have been created, you apply constraints to
position them relative to one another. Each time you apply a constraint to a
part, you eliminate some degrees of freedom (DOF). The number of degrees
of freedom determines the movement of a part in any direction; the more
constraints applied, the less the part can move.
A degrees of freedom symbol illustrates the instance order of the parts and
how the parts can move. The DOF symbol shows how many degrees of free-
dom are not solved and help you visualize and apply constraints to parts.
Apply multiple assembly constraints on two parts to fully position them rel-
ative to each other. A bolt might still turn (rotational degree of freedom is not
solved), but as long as the bolt and hole are aligned on their axes, and the
bolt face is flush with the hole, no other constraints are needed.
Because the parts and their assembly constraints are parametric, they can be
edited. The assembly constraints applied on each part are permanently
stored with the assembly to allow parametric updating if the parts change.
To display a DOF symbol
1 Use the Browser to display the DOF symbol for HEXBOLT_1.
Browser Right-click HEXBOLT_1, and choose DOF Symbol.
The DOF symbol is displayed in the center of HEXBOLT. It indicates that the
bolt can move in any direction.
DOF symbol