Mates & Construction Lines

Everyone,

Is it possible to use construction lines in an assembly to mate to.
Like if you has two boxes that you wanted to make 12" apart from each
other center to center, if I had drawn construction lines beforehand,
it does not let me pick the construction lines to use in mates...

Thanks,

Tim

 

If it doesn't let you do that try making an axis off of each construction
line in the part file maybe rename them Central Axis1 or something.

Corey

 

Tim. I have done that, so it should not be a problem. I assume you have a
sketch in each part and they are visible in the assembly and you select both
and then mate? Should work. I sometimes do this with centers of rotation
before I have the features necessary to create "real world" mates.

A better practice, and maybe a time saver, is to use planes to mate. If you
use the lines, you may need extra mates to define the xyz. Either use the
world planes - which may already be where you want them depending on how you
model - or create place where you want them. I think you will find that more
controlled than with construction lines. But in the end, it really depends
what you are doing.

Daniel