Quick question about aligning components without face intersections

[Anonymous]

Hi all, 

I have a quick question about component alignments: is there a way to restrict alignments to not allow faces of components to intersect?

Thank you. 

[etfrench]

Why would they intersect?  Post your file or screencast to make your query clear.

[Anonymous]

My apologies. Here's a video:

https://youtu.be/tsWA_yhSn3I

The hinge and the rod seem to be overlapping after I aligned them. 

Please let me know if I need to provide anything else. 

[etfrench]

We'll need to see the file to see what's aligned to what.  Export, then attach it to the thread.

[Anonymous]

Got it. Is there a particular way you'd like me to export the file?

[etfrench]

File|Export|Archive file *.f3d

[Anonymous]

Got it. It's attached. 

[etfrench · Accepted solution]

Here are the hinge and extrusion parts projected to a sketch:

As you can see the hinges are too large to fit the extrusions and their hinge points are not on the centerline between the extrusions.  This is also easy  to see by using the Section Analysis tool on the Inspect menu.

[Anonymous]

Got it, thank you!

In general though, is there a way to restrict, let's say movement of components, to not intersect certain faces of other components? 

[etfrench]

Generally, I would say to use joints instead of the Move command.  Every Move commands require recalculating every time Compute is called (which is any time geometry is added). 

You can create a sketch on the face, then use the Project/Intersect command to see if there is an intersection.  When the intersections are large like your current file, then just projecting the offending bodies will show the intersection.

Designing in place will also reduce the possibility of intersections.

[Anonymous]

Thank you!

But what if you're importing the components from, let's say, McMaster-Carr? Then you won't be able to build in place. 

Do you happen to have any suggestions for that also?

[laughingcreek]

then you use regular joints instead of as-built joints.  You still wouldn't want to use move.

[Anonymous]

Got it. Thank you!

[chrisplyler]

If that hinge is a McMaster Carr part, and it is intended specifically for those extrusions, then I would suggest that they have been designed to leave a gap between the extrusions.

Because the guide bosses are obviously too far apart to fit into the extrusions when the extrusions are butted up against each other.