Moving a component to be flush on two sides with another component

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I've searched the forums and been at this for hours and still can't seem to figure out how to get a component flush on two sides with another component. I'm unsure how to explain it in words so I've made a short screencast here.

Note: when I say I've tried joints, I meant to also say I've tried both sliding and planar joints with the same result.

[etfrench]

One way to do this is to create joint origins on two sides of the extrusion at the (width) mid point. Create a slider joint between the extrusion and the angle block. (Call this side 1.) While creating the slider joint, select the axis which allows the extrusion to move towards or away from the other face of the angle block.  Project the joint origin from the extrusion's side 2 to a sketch on the matching face of the angle block. You can now create either a rigid, slider, or planar between the two.  See attached file.

If you need the flat plate to also be aligned with the face of the angle block, it would be best to do that first with the same method (assuming there isn't a joint origin in the correct place).  You should only need one joint and a rigid group for all of the angle blocks.

p.s. You can also use offsets in the joints to position the extrusion, but don't rely on the measure tool unless you have it set to max decimals.

[davebYYPCU]

Take a few measurements and plug them into the Joint offset dialogue box, that's what it is for.

Joint the extrusion face flush with the face of the plate, offset the X and Y distances.

Select top corner of the plate, and the centre of the extrusion tube, on the end faces, they will line up flush

You can find out the offset distances (in brackets in the sketch, but you don't need the sketch, just a pen and paper).

Might help.....

[wmhazzard · Accepted solution]

Use the align tool and use a rigid group when aligned. 

Youtube video.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W1S5EXHpvs

[chrisplyler · Accepted solution]

Another method is three Planar Joints. One for the flush pair of faces in X, one for the flush pair of faces in Y, and one for the flush pair of faces in Z.

It's okay to have more than one Joint between a pair of Components, you just have to acknowledge the pop-up warning and keep going. And, of course, you have to insure you don't create a Joint that conflicts with a prior Joint.

For example... you could make a Planar Joint between the lower face of the extrusion and the corresponding face of the mounting bracket. You could then make another Planar Joint between the inside face of the extrusion and the corresponding face of the mounting bracket. Your third Planar Joint would be between the end face of the extrusion and the corresponding side face of the plate. Of course, that third one will conflict with the other two IF there is any non-square geometry. IF everything is square, then that last Planar Joint will bring the end of the extrusion into a co-planar condition with the side of the plate, but it will fail if the extrusion isn't cut square on the end, or the plate isn't cut square, or the bracket isn't perfectly lined up, or any other set of circumstances exist which prevents all three Joints from coexisting.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the explanation and added visuals!