To Position Components Using Constraints
1. Select a component from the Model Tree or from the graphics window. A Live Toolbar appears.
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 You can also select multiple components by dragging a box around the components in the graphics window to include them. Alternatively, hold down the CTRL key to select the components one at a time in the Model Tree or the graphics window. |
2. Click
on the Live Toolbar. An Options Toolbar opens for positioning the component. Expand the Options Toolbar to open the Floating Dashboard.
Alternatively, as Action-Object steps, in
Assembly mode, click
Home >
Position and then select a component in the graphics window or the model tree to open the Options Toolbar.
3. To move the component and change its position in a specific direction, pull a highlighted handle of the dragger. If you have selected multiple components, all the components will move and get repositioned together.
4. To define a constraint and populate the primary collector with the selection, click
in the
References panel and select the first geometric reference on the component.
5. To define a constraint and populate the secondary collector with the selection, click
in the
References panel and select the second geometric reference in the assembly.
A constraint is created based on which the component positions itself. The dragger adjusts to reflect the degree of freedom for the component. A label indicating the constraint type appears in the graphics window with a leader pointing to the component reference.
6. After you select a geometric reference on the component or the assembly, hold down the SHIFT key and pull a linear handle to snap the component to the selected reference, if required.
| You can select a specific constraint type at this step or at step 5. If you do not do so, a default constraint is created based on the current location of the components. |
8. Continue to define constraints as long as one of the buttons
or
in the
References panel are active.
Select the geometric references on the component or in the assembly. Hold down the CTRL key to add or remove selected items from the collectors. Depending on the active buttons, items are added or removed from the primary or secondary collectors.
9. To fully constrain the component, continue with step 8. When a component is fully constrained, the buttons in the References panel are no longer auto activated.
10. To show or hide the dragger, click
in the
Show 3D dragger panel.
11. To relocate the dragger, click the collector in the Movement origin panel and select a geometric reference on the component.
12. To snap the dragger to the geometric reference selected in the previous step, hold down the SHIFT key and pull the handle in the direction of the geometric reference. The dragger snaps and reorients itself based on the selected geometric reference with restricted degrees of freedom due to the constraint types defined.
13. To move the component along the geometric reference selected in the previous step, pull a handle of the dragger.
14. To modify the constraint type, right-click a constraint type label and click an option on the shortcut menu :
◦ Click another constraint type.
◦ Click Flip Constraint to flip the orientation of the component.
◦ Click Delete to delete the constraint.
If a modified constraint type conflicts with the previously defined constraints, the
button appears in the
References drawer. Click this button to revert to the original constraint type.
15. To accept the component placement changes, middle-click the graphics window.
| All the constraints that are inactive or disabled are deleted after you finish positioning the components and close the dashboard. |