Part locked in place when one constraint is added

[SCASTILLO-RMI]

Using Inventor 2019. Starting about a week ago I noticed that when applying a constraint I lose all freedom of movement with the part.

For example, I choose a mate constraint to place a small block on a flat plate. Previously once the parts were mated I would still be able to slide the block left/right/up/down along the plate. Now once the constraint is applied the part is locked. It will not move until I add another constraint, or delete the previous one.

This appears to be limited to one assembly but it occurs regardless of which parts I am working with or constraints chosen . I checked and there are no errors, grounded parts or conflicting constraints.

Any help with this one would be greatly appreciated.

[pollock_22]

I had this problem many times before I discovered the issue with parts no longer able to move or rotate.

What I found was if anyone of my assemblies had a bad constraint in the model (only takes one bad constraint somewhere in the model) then the objects I am working on will no longer rotate or move. Expand All the Children and scan down looking for the yellow bad constraint symbol.

Hope this helps.

[anthonyzepeda1969]

Ha! Not always true. As I have already commented on here. Sometimes it happens even with a NEW assembly. You can drop in 2 parts and it locks ip. 
And before you say it, no parts are grounded, no sick or errored constraints., no conflicting constraints, no redundant constraints either. Not tied to a lower level or anything. I know its hard for you AUTODESK guys to accept, but occasionally its just a glitch in the software. Lol

[johnsonshiue]

Hi Anthony,

If you can reproduce the behavior, please me know how to do it. I am more than happy to take a look to understand the issue better and pursue a fix. If this is specific to 2023.0, please install 2023.0.1 and 2023.1, followed by 2023.1.1.

Also you may consider turning on the following option.

Tools -> App Options -> Assembly -> check "Enable redundant relationship analysis."

Many thanks!

[anthonyzepeda1969]

No worries Johnson. We've already talked about this and beat that horse to death. lol 

Thanks. 

[The_Angry_Elf]

I see this thread has gone on for a while and would like to offer my "catch all" tool that seems to fix these odd ball type issues.

But in my experience, if this file has been working fine and/or has gone thru a lot of changing, try running the file(s) thru Inventor's Task Scheduler and rebuild the file(s):

https://www.cdscad.com/blog/inventor-101-knock-knock-knock-housekeeping

That article will walk you thru the process. Not sure if it'll fix this issue, but it might find/fix/clear the corrupted constraint....if that's indeed the issue. Just a suggestion.

[gardnercryo]

Make sure you have one grounded component in your assembly.

[anthonyzepeda1969]

Now that is a different idea that I have not heard. yet. Even though my issue was with a nee file that is still a great idea. Kind ic like what NX calls part cleanup.

I had no idea Inventor had that feature. 

Thanks for the tip. 

[hewmannet]

Hi everyone.
Here is solution:
1. Make new clear assembly.
2. Insert your problem assembley in new one.
3. "Ground" it and make "Flexible".
4. It works for me. Everything is moving as you want.

[JDMather]

@hewmannet 

You didn’t resolve the root cause of.

Attach your assembly here if you can’t figure it out.

[anthonyzepeda1969]

Yes that will work. But you should not need to do that.

[franter67]

I had this problem on a very complex piping assembly and  fix  it :

In the assembly browser, open the relationships folder and starting from the base I suppressed blocks of constraints until I found the corrupt constraint and everything was fixed.

[anthonyzepeda1969]

Yes I know how to perform the tedious task of checking constraints one by
one. But when it is a NEW assembly and only has 2 parts in it, then
something else is going on.
If you read back through the replies you can see several people have shared
that tip and it did not work. Of course I knew to check my parts to verify
they weren't grounded and checked constraints. I've only been doing this
for 34 years.

Could have been a corrupt file this post is very old. I've already moved on
from this post.