How to Use "Constraint Set"

[Anonymous]

Hello!

So I'm just kind of curious about how this tool is supposed to be used. I've tried it once or twice but to no avail. I'm not even really sure what I'm supposed to be selecting. Can someone make a quick demonstration?

[Curtis_Waguespack · Accepted solution]

Hi wimann,

The Constraint Set tool is used to constrain User Co-ordinate Systems (UCS) that are created in the part files, to each other. Once the UCS's are set up in parts, then you can use the Constraint Set tool in the Assembly to constrain those parts together, and it will create 3 flush constraints between the UCS planes in each part file.

This can be helpful in certain worlflows where components have common datums, often compnents imported from other systems.

Here's a quick video:

https://youtu.be/Ds1CU7hR0eI?t=7m28s

I hope this helps.
Best of luck to you in all of your Inventor pursuits,
Curtis
http://inventortrenches.blogspot.com

[Anonymous]

As it turns out, while waiting or a reply, I noticed the UCS tool in the work features section of the ribbon. And so I thought that might be it and I tried with a quick couple of parts and lo and behold.

Thank you for your reply though. Not sure how often I would find myself using such a thing but it's good to know it exists and how to use it.

[cvbt-thailand]

There is a good article in the knowledge base here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018... The help page is also well written. I like UCS constraint sets because they appear to provide the most stable method for constraining components; there is less opportunity for a large model to become corrupt.

[cvbt-thailand]

@DRoam Advisor posted a good tip:

"Set up your Part/Assembly templates so that you have a UCS at the origin, and then you'll always have this in your new Parts/Assemblies. This is easy to do in existing Parts/Assemblies as well. Just start the UCS command [On the ribbon, click 3D Model tab > Work Features panel > UCS .], type in 0-tab-0-tab-0, then hit Enter twice and you're done. Then you can drag this UCS to the top of your Browser tree if you want. And then you can use this for any UCS-to-UCS constraints."