• Assembling your model—Use predefined connection sets to define how the components move with respect to each other.

• Defining the rigid bodies in your model—A rigid body is a group of parts that are rigidly controlled, with no degrees of freedom within the group. If two parts have no degrees of freedom between them due to the placement constraints that were defined during the assembly process, they are part of the same rigid body. You can only place predefined connection sets between two distinct rigid bodies. If a mechanism is not moving the way you expect, or if you are not able to create connections because two parts are in the same rigid body, you may need to redefine the rigid bodies in your mechanism.

• Specifying connection parameters—After you add connections, define zero references, specify a regeneration value for the software to use when it assembles the model, and limit the allowable motion of the connections in the Motion Axis dialog box.

• Create special connections—Add other types of modeling entities, such as cam-follower connections. You do not need to first create special cam geometry. Simply select geometric entities on your model.