MidMate

Background

The MidMate tool is targeted at users who model on nominal but include clearance margins in their designs (i.e. metalwork fabricators). These small margins make constraining components more labour intensive as the small gaps need to be preserved to maintain accuracy.

Operation

1. Our starting position, the intents is to constrain the left-hand component into the square slot on the right-hand sub assembly

1. Select first face of first component

2. Select second face of first component.

3. Select first face of second component

4. Select second face of second component

5. Constraint will be placed and an option to flip will appear (the option to flip will not appear if the flipped option would cause a conflict with other constraints

6. The result, a constraint down the Centre of the slot.

7. Running through again to finish constraining the part. Select first face of first component.

8. Select second face of first component.

9. Select the final pair

10. Part is central in slot and parametrically placed so as dimensions change, it will remain in the centre.

Notes (FAQ)

Q: Can I use this tool across components or with sub-assemblies?

A: Although originally intended to operate part to part the tool now works across multiple component and with deeply nested sub-assemblies. These features are working but not thoroughly tested, please feedback issues with assembly support.

Q: I’ve tried to select an iPart and constrain but nothing happened.

A: iParts behave quite differently behind the scenes in Inventor, so it has not been possible to include this yet.

Q: The highlight on selections sometimes disappears part way through using the tool.

A: This is a known error in the highlight option that is accessible to developers outside of Autodesk, unfortunately there is nothing Symetri can do about this other than assure users as it is just a visual thing, selections made a retained, only the color changes.