Mate Error Message can be Erroneous

When an attempt is made, for example, to mate two components to have
parallel faces set coincident, SolidWorks may present the user with an
"error" message such as: "Planar faces are not coincident. Separation
distance is 0.0806163mm."

Unfortunately, although the message is factual, it is NOT complete and
is potentially misleading, since the root cause is unidentified.

The reason the mate is not possible stems from the fixed conditions of
the components within the assembly. By floating one of them, the mate
can be applied without difficulty.

The enhancement, therefore, is for the mate function to provide more
detail in its messages, so that the user can, for example, be reminded
of the limitation(s) created by a pre-existing FIXED condition.
Although the Feature Manager shows fixed status with (f) before the
component's name, this is not always immediately obvious when the
component (selected from the viewport) happens to be far down in the
sub-assembly tree.

Note: This, for example, is really no different from the notice
provided by the current messages which refer to a new mate as
overdefining due to the existing (fixed by mates) relationships.

Perhaps the selected face (or other entity) of the fixed component
could be flagged within the Mate Selections Dialog Box in a way to show
the immovable condition. This would serve to remind the user of the
need to restore floatation in order to achieve mate success.

If you agree with this sort of enhancement, please put in a request to
SolidWorks.

Per O. Hoel

 

After SW 2006 I have found on occasion that I get the same error
message you have mention above. but errouniously. At least on of the
parallel surfaces is not fixed and is theoretically able to accept a
coincident constraint. However, to make a coincident mate I have to
first make a distant mate then change the distant to "0" then it will
allow a coincident mate. It can all be done before accepting the mate
but it does add a few extra key stokes to the operation.

Marty

 

We've seen the same false error message with SW06. We can often get the
parts to mate by just moving them closer. Your method is probably faster and
definitely more reliable.

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems
"take the garbage out, dear"

 

I have it randomly on SW04, the cure I found is supress and unsupress (?).
Happens when switching configs, very rare.

My .01 Eu
JM

 

I have seen this also, only since 2006. I have been able to get around
this behaviour by suppressing any one of the existing mates to the
offending part, this snaps the part into position, then unsuppressing
the mate again. The mates then all behave normally with no errors.
Strange.
PJ.