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1-Visitor
January 9, 2014
Solved

Assembly constraint default settings......

  • January 9, 2014
  • 1 reply
  • 15186 views

To All,

Does anyone know what the config options are that control the default constraint types when assembling components? I have engineers who, when attempting to assemble say a flat washer to a surface, get a normal placement vs. parallel like would be expected. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Buddy Hudson

Best answer by neomechanikos

Here's a powerpoint presentation (PDF format) that I did for a PTC User Group meeting that explains it in depth with graphics, etc.

1 reply

1-Visitor
January 9, 2014

In Creo 2.0 when set to automatic, it creates constraints based on what geometry you choose and their relative locations and values of thresholds set in the config settings. For instance, when you mate two surfaces, their original position (just before the final geometry selection) with respect to each other determine whether it is normal, coincident, distance, or angle.

There are several config settings that establish a threshold for how Creo selects each one. If the surfaces are coincident within one threshold but too far apart to be within another threshold then it selects distance, etc. If you know what these thresholds (epsilons) are you can reposition (ctl+alt+mouse, or use the 3D dragger) your component prior to selecting geometry such that it automatically selects what constraints you want.

comp_normal_offset_eps

comp_angle_offset_eps

auto_constr_offset_tolerance

auto_const_always_use_offset

Furthermore, by adjusting the thresholds with a few config options, you can effectively disable some of the constraints. If you always want coincident then you can adjust the thresholds/epsilons and a few config options to do this. These below have worked for me to make something always default to coincident unless I otherwise choose. Hope that helps.

auto_const_always_use_offset NEVER

comp_angle_offset_eps 91

comp_normal_offset_eps -1

1-Visitor
January 9, 2014

Here's a powerpoint presentation (PDF format) that I did for a PTC User Group meeting that explains it in depth with graphics, etc.

1-Visitor
January 9, 2014

Hey Eric,

Thanks for the fast response! I will check it out!

Buddy