Constrain point to point

[trainguy]

Hello all.

Can I constrain a single point on a part to a point on other parts in an assembly? It would enable me to then add rotational (angle) constraints to my hearts content.

I am attempting to control 6 generalized degrees of freedom between 2 parts.

Thanks

tg

 

[DesignerMike]

Quite easy.

You can constrain work points. (place a workpoint in the part, and use the browser to select it when constraining the assembly)

Use the origin center point. Think ahead a little, and start the fist sketch where you want to pivot the part. When modeling the part, constraint the first sketch around the origin point, and use the origin point as the constraining point. This is the most stable ways since whatever you do to the model of the part, the origin point will always be there, and Inventor will never get confused.

Any circular edge will give you a "point" to constrain to. You have probably done this by accident many times instead of using an insert constraint.

The easiest way to select work features and origin features is to pick them from the browser instead of trying to click on them in the assembly. If you want to choose them in the assembly they will need to be "visible" and you may need to be viewing in "wireframe" mode or they may be covered by the part itself.