Joining Components Without Clear Corners?

[Anonymous]

I keep running into issues with connecting components like these:

Typically components where:

1. I want to place the smaller component flush in one corner of the larger, or centre the part in a holder.

2. Commonly with rounded edges or similar where it's not the simple case of 'joint origin coincident with joint origin'.

Is there a proper way to make joints for these cases?

and to avoid making a rigid component + arbitrary offset?

I've tried created joint origins offset from the model, and haven't had any luck.

In the phone to phone holder joint, I created a planar AND a sliding joint and (ignoring warnings) managed to constrain the phone in the correct place, but that seems very Solidworks-ey.

[etfrench · Accepted solution]

I'd use a sketch and place a point where you want the joint origin.  That plus joint offsets should allow you to joint just about anything.

[davebYYPCU]

Many ways to do those, but not with one click.

When inserting the component, you can align them perfectly,  Move command is open for the first free kick, 

Unhide sketches for possible attachment points, 

or Move them to the appropriate positions yourself, then as built joints.

but, when placing / selecting Joint position markers, should be on the model, and when positioning, use offsets between the origins you are using....

Might help.

[Anonymous]

Sketches + Joint Origins works well and feels 'right', so thank you!

Joint Origins of a linked component can thankfully be hidden and shown in the parent.

A pity that visibility cannot be toggled with sketches.

(and elements on a shown sketch can be used as a joint, but not on a hidden sketch!)

(Very weird behaviour - you can joint with a shown sketch, edit the linked component, hide the sketch, 'get latest' the component in the parent, and everything still works... unless you accidentally remove/un-link the joint reference)

Feels a little bit, not half-baked, but maybe could use a few more minutes in the oven.