Symmetric constraint involving a Width Mate like solidworks

[Anonymous]

it would be very useful if inventor has this constraint.

A width mate centers a tab within the width of a groove. Groove width references can include: Two parallel planar faces Two non-parallel planar faces (with or without draft) Tab references can include: Two parallel planar faces Two non-parallel planar faces (with or without draft) One cylindrical face or axis

Examples:

[Anonymous]

Sometimes, I want to constrain a part so that the dimension comes off of the center of the part. Most cases, I can use the origin plane of the part, but sometimes this isn't an option.

Adding a midplane option would give us more flexibility, especially if the part changes sizes down the road.

So instead of having your "1" and "2" selections, there may be a checkbox for "midplane" for both parts 1 and 2 and "1" becomes "1a" and "1b" if the box is checked, and likewise for part 2.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Started a new role with a company using Inventor.  Used to use Solidworks for a couple of years previously.

One thing I got used to was the 'width mate'.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFiPxAMmxKc  sums it up best.  Basically it's very easy to symetrically position a componeent within an assembly between two faces, without needing to add any extra planes etc.  (the video is far more better at explaining it!).

I cannot find anything like it in inventor.  Would be appreciative to see this incorporated into a service pack update.  Would help immensely in work flow and productivity.

[Curtis_Waguespack]

Hi  Joe_Banger ,

Have you looked at the new Symmetry constraint (Autodesk Inventor 2014)?

See thisYoutube link:

http://youtu.be/hoQxHn-Znz8

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

[Anonymous]

Thank you Curtis_Waguespack I have updated to 2014 this morning and am keen to try it out.

[Rory_M]

Just a heads up for anyone who isn't familiar with the width contraint in Solidworks.

It isn't the same as the Symmetry constraint in Inventor. The symmetry constraint is useful, but they definitely aren't the same.

Suprisingly, there aren't actually too many things I miss about Solidworks, but this is one of them.

Rather than requiring 3 inputs (2 faces and a plane of symmetry) it requires 4 inputs, 2 faces on one part and 2 faces on another.

A simple exaple would be locating an undersized padeye centrally within a clevis. Pick the 2 outer faces of the padeye, and the two inner faces of the clevis and it's done. You don't need to know the sizes or clearance, or worry about using planes down the centre.

In my opinion it would be a worthwhile addition to Inventor, and make assembling much much easier.

[DRoam]

Currently, I cannot choose two faces on a single part as the first two faces in a Symmetric Constraint. This means I cannot center a face on one part between two faces on another part. This is very limiting as this is a basic functionality that should be allowed. Please allow two faces on a single part to be the outside faces of a Symmetric Constraint.

[DRoam]

We also cannot constrain a third part to be centered relative to two components that are in a pattern. This is very limiting as it is common to have a part, such as a gusset, centered between members of a pattern. Please allow this as well.

[Dan_Margulius]

Hi,

We need WIDTH symmetry and not what we have today.

Dan

[CAD-One]

Symmetry is NOT perfect alternative to width mate.

If the plane is not in the center of the feature, then symmetry fails.

Where as width works without help of planes.

[Anonymous]

When you can`t add workplane between two paralell faces on a part in the assembly, the Symmetry Constraint is useless. I`m left with measuring the gap, subtract the width of the part, dividing that by to and using that to create an offset constraint - Smooth! Missing SW for sure.

This has been suggested for years now - time for action?

[CAD-One]

Best thing to do would be to add your vote to the following idea

Link to said Idea post for anyone else reading this thread.

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/introduction-of-width-mates/idi-p/4352019

May be some autodesk developer might see and implement it.

Cheers.

[DRoam]

This is a great suggestion. This could be used not only to center a part/feature, but also to drive symmetry. The Symmetry constraint would no longer be needed.

For example, depending on the selection, you could do the following:

Selection: One side of the constraint is a pair faces, the other side is single face

Behavior: The single face will be centered between the pair of faces, and the pair of faces will be kept symmetric about the single face

Selection: Both sides are a pair of faces

Behavior: Both pairs will share the same center (i.e. be centered with each other)

This could be used to center parts/features, and keep parts symmetric, all without the need for preexisting midplanes for said parts/features.

[Anonymous]

I'm not saying inventor should 'clone' Solidworks (the **** thing is so unstable to start with) but it is time someone from AutoDesk actually took a REALLY good look at Solidworks, there's are some excellent functions and features, mates being a BIG improvement on Inventors offerings. I genuinely can't believe AutoDesk don't keep a close eye on the competition but if they do look at Solidworks they aren't looking closely at all. Surely to utilise the best features of another package makes sense, maybe put your own take on things and improve it but it's silly to not bother at all with an excellent idea just so you don't look like you might be copying.

C'mon AutoDesk, check where the competition is coming from and beat them at it.

[Anonymous]

I was glad to get back to Inventor when I switched jobs but I have to say, if there is one thing I miss most about SolidWorks, it's the width mate. 

Mating planes is cumbersome especially if your design intent uses the existing planes in another fashion and now have to create work planes.

To be fair, I missed the insert constraint during my SW days.

[DRoam]

Duplicate: Introduction of width mates.

[AKSC6EZ]

Sometimes I want to constrain objects aligned in the center with other objects. Here for I need to make a midplane or so to align the objects.
It would be great to be able to constrain two parts and align them in the center with each other.

It would be great to be able to select a mid plane through two planes for each part and then contstrain them against each other.
It should look like the workfeature -> ' create plane between to planes' 

[jtylerbc]

In my opinion, the Symmetry constraint should be able to do this.  Its purpose currently is to resolve the two objects about the midplane.  If it could also solve "backwards" so that the midplane moves instead if it is the less-constrained object, that would take care of this need without  having to add another type of constraint.

[DRoam]

This has already been asked for, you can vote for it here: Symmetric constraint involving a Width Mate like solidworks

Also, I agree with @jtylerbc. The Symmetry constraint should handle all types of symmetry constraining, including:

• Symmetrizing: Make two planes (or edges or axes or points) symmetric relative to a centerplane
• Centering: Center a plane (or edge or axis or point) between two outer planes
• In all cases, we should be able to define the "centerplane" as the bisector of two existing faces (i.e. Width Mate from SolidWorks)

Right now the Symmetry constraint only does the first of those. It can do the second, but only with planes, and not if the two outer planes are part of the same Component or in the same Component Pattern.

[DRoam]

A couple other duplicates:

• Constrain with midplane between existing faces
• Constrain centered with an other object

[Anonymous]

I totally I agree that this type of constraint needs to be add to Inventor. I know that there are workarounds but this would make it such more convenient. Thanks.