Speed mate creation with Multiple Mate mode

In most cases, you will need to mate many components to a single reference. SolidWorks® 2007 software introduces Multiple Mate mode which allows you to greatly improve productivity when such mates are needed.

Figure 1 shows an example where all the gears are mated concentric to the shaft. Previously with SolidWorks 2006, you would select the cylindrical face of the shaft and appropriate face of the gears five times.



Figure 1




The Multiple Mate mode can be made active from the Mate PropertyManager by clicking
the button.

Select the common reference – in our example, the shaft face.





Figure 2

Next, select the inside diameters of the gears. If you have selected Show Preview, a preview of the mate is shown each time you select a face. Click OK to apply the mates.




Figure 3

Selecting the Create multi-mate folder consolidates all the mates under a common Multi-mates folder.




Figure 4

You can edit all the mates at once by right-clicking on the folder and selecting Edit Feature.



Figure 5

If you are creating a distance or an angle mate, you can also choose to link the dimensions of the mates, so that they can be edited at one go.





Conclusion:
The new Multiple Mate mode can speed the creation, editing and management of mates created with a common reference.