WHITEPAPER

iMate Uses

In my last two whitepapers I covered creating iParts and iFeatures and some
of the uses for them. In this whitepaper, I am going to set up iMates and talk Table of Contents
about their uses. iMates can be used to set up mates for assembling our parts
■■ Creating iMates
and assemblies. They are built into parts and subassemblies and set
predetermined constraints that dictate how parts and subassemblies are ■■ Placing Parts with iMates
assembled. It speeds up assembly time and creates assemblies that are easy ■■ Conclusion
to manage. One of the best ways of using them are for subassemblies that ■■ About the Author: Chris Griffith
have parts that are similar, but interchangeable.

Creating iMates
iMates are used to assemble parts or subassemblies quickly and accurately. Rather than assembling with one constraint at a
time, iMates are set up one mate at a time with the option to name the mate as you go. This allows you to use them when you
insert the part or subassembly. There are a couple ways to set up iMates – one is changing current generic constraints into
iMates and the other is to select the iMate creation tool in the Manage Tab > Author Panel. There are also two types of iMates –
the normal kind (individual), and Composite iMates (take iMates for a part and combine them to one Mate).

Let’s start with the normal iMates. I will go to the Manage Tab > Author Panel > and select the iMate tool. Once selected,
I will be greeted with the iMate dialog box.

This dialog box contains two tabs in the upper section and two tabs in the lower section. The upper contains the Assembly Tab
which controls the type, solution and offset of rigid type constraints, while the Motion Tab contains tools for the type, solution,
and ratio of motion type constraints. The lower section controls limits for our constraints and matching tools to ensure that one
constraint is matched to another correctly.

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 iMate Uses 2

First I need to give some thought to the types of constraints I need. In this particular paper I will use a flange and a section of
pipe. I will start with the flange, setting up a constraint on the face, center and plane of both parts. As shown below, I have
selected a center type constraint, making sure that both edges match and that the types also match. After that, I enter the name
of the constraints. Note that they are opposite of each other and must also match. I will continue adding constraints until I have
what is needed to create a good working iMate Set.

Next I will take a look at Composite iMates. Composites let us combine our iMates into one iMate for ease of insertion. I simply
select the iMates needed to create the Composite iMate in the Model Browser, right click and select ‘Create Composite’.
I am now left with a Composite iMate that shows the iMates that are part of the Composite.

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 iMate Uses 3

Lastly I will take a look at creating iMates from existing constraints. First I will select the constraint or constraints in the model
browser, I’ll then right click on the constraint and select ‘Infer iMates’. I will be given an Infer iMates dialog box here and will provide
a name and select ‘Create Composite iMates’ (as long as I have selected multiple constraints). I am then left with iMates instead of
constraints and an iMates folder is added to the model browser.

Placing Parts with iMates

When inserting parts with iMates you will have a few options to choose from. In the Place Component dialog box you have two
insertion options in the iMate section at the bottom of the dialog box. The first option allows the user to automatically match the
mates and allows the user to preview and select them. The second option places and finalizes the assembly.

When you select the interactive method you will be given options in the Right click menu, they are as follows:

■■ Use iMates checkbox – Enables/Disables iMates.

■■ Place at all matching iMates – Places component and applies all iMates.

■■ Skip remaining iMate results <spacebar> – Skips remaining mates after user accepts at least one mate.

■■ Generate remaining iMate results <Ctrl> + <Enter> – Accepts all matches, any remaining are auto-selected.

■■ Restart – Discards accepted, and restarts preview for selecting mates.

■■ Next or Previous Component iMate (up/down arrow) – Cycles between iMates.

■■ Next or Previous Assembly iMate (right/left arrow) – Cycles between another iMate of the assembly that matches.

■■ Next or Previous Assembly iMate (right/left arrows) – Used to cycle if iMates Pair still exists.

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Conclusion
This sums up the iMates whitepaper. I hope you’ll start utilizing this powerful design tool. When used in iParts it can really add
powerful tools when inserting parts in your assembly, speeding up design time and ensuring a great part with features that are
quickly editable and diverse.

About the Author: Chris Griffith – Manufacturing Application Expert

Chris provides standard, custom, and advanced Autodesk AutoCAD and Inventor training. He treats every class as a learning
experience for himself and the student, which allows him to focus on customer needs and what may help them become a better
draftsperson or designer.

Chris started his career designing custom windows and heading up the customer approval process for Windsor Windows.
At Cemen-Tech he was in charge of designing a mobile silo that could be stood upright after being towed to the job site and also
produced customer approval drawings. While working at Siemens Water Technologies he designed various parts and equipment
for municipal water treatment plants, as well as a mobile water treatment plant and lab with-in a Semi Trailer. This unit was placed
onsite at proposed treatment locations during the discovery process to determine what sort of equipment was required to provide
clean water.

About IMAGINiT Technologies

IMAGINiT Technologies, a Rand Worldwide Company, is a provider of enterprise solutions to the engineering
community, including the building, manufacturing, civil and mapping industries. With over 25 years of
experience, and more than 40 offices throughout North America, we provide the expertise, training and
support to help companies realize the full power of design technology, maximize ROI and gain competitive
advantage.

IMAGINiT is a leading provider of Autodesk software solutions and the largest North American Autodesk
Authorized Training Center (ATC) partner. All of our locations are supported by a vast pool of engineering
resources focused on developing real-life business solutions for our local clients.

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