In this Task

• Part 1 and 2 will be assembled.
• Part 2 will be rotated and assembled by connection to Part 1

Associated Tasks

• Rotating a solid object.
• Assemble by Connection.

Before you Start

• Open the drawing which was saved in the previous Session [or use the sample drawing for this session. More…The sample drawing for this session contains the 2D Sketch and the 3D Model for Parts 1-5. Frequently, these are superimposed. Use the Concept Explorer to control the display of the layers. Create your own layers if you wish to produce the design from scratch or pan to an unused area of the editor.](https://www.tricad.co.za/2020/TCMacDTGv12/Content/Resources/Drawings/Parts_Assembly.tcd)
• View is set to Isometric.

Take Note

• The position of individual components drawn by the user may differ.

Layer Control

Window | Concept Explorer

---

Using the Concept Explorer, switch off all layers other than the layer containing the Model for Part 1 and 2, shown below. The layer for either Part 1 or Part 2 should be the current layer, shown below.

Activating the Model layer for Part 1

Parts 1 and 2 should be displayed in the editor, similar to the image below. The position of individual components drawn by the user may differ.

Parts 1 and 2 only shown in the editor

Part 2 will be rotated around both the X and Z axis until it is in alignment with the assembly face of Part 1.

Enabling the Gripper

Window > Inspector >

The Gripper provides a 3-dimensional axis around which a selected part can be rotated and is useful for manipulating parts in the editor.

Select Window > Inspector, then enable the Gripper shown below.

Enabling the Gripper

By selecting Part 2, the Gripper attaches to the center of the part’s extents and aligns with the Axis, shown below.

Attaching the Gripper to Part 2

Rotate

Modify | Transform | Rotate

This transformation tool rotates any curve, surface or solid by defining a point of rotation and an angle on the XYZ axes.

---

Select Part 2, then select the Rotate tool from the toolbar or use Modify > Transform > Rotate. Left-click-hold onto the red rotator arc of the Gripper and move the part in an upward direction shown below. TAB to the Angle field and input 90. The result is shown below right.

Part 2 rotated about the X-axis by 90°

With Part 2 still selected, drag the green rotator arc in the direction shown by the arrow below left, then TAB to the angle field and input -90. The result is shown below right.

Part 2 rotated about the y-axis by -90

Assembly tools

assemble by Connection

Modify | Advanced Transform | Assemble (Option : Connection)

This assembly tool assembles a source object to a destination object by corresponding assembly points.

---

The centers of Part 2 will be assembled onto the corresponding face of Part 1, shown below. In the illustration below, the view has been flipped for clarity using View > Flip View.

Center of Part 2 to connect to center of Part 1 | Parts rotated to show connection points

Select the Connection tool from the toolbar or use Modify > Advanced Transform > Assemble > Connection. Make sure the Connection option is selected from the options menu.

Select Part 2 to move, then select the center of the face shown below.

Finding the source assembly connection

At the prompt > Select solid to move to, select Part 1, then select the associated center on the face of Part 1, shown below.

Finding the destination assembly connection

The result is shown below from multiple views. Always rotate the view after assembly to check the connections.

Part 2 assembled by connection to Part 1

Mirror 2 Points

Modify | Transform | Mirror

This duplication tool creates a mirrored image of selected objects across a line of symmetry, retaining or discarding the original.

The keyboard ALT key is used to retain the original and create a duplicate.

---

A mirrored duplicate of Part 2 will be created by mirroring the assembled part across the midpoint axis of Part 1, shown below.

Assembled Part 2 (left) to be mirrored across central axis of Part 1

View the drawing from Top view, then select the Mirror tool from the toolbar or use Modify > Transform > Mirror (2 Points).

Select Part 2, then select the center of the top circle as the start of the reference line, shown as point 1 below. Hold down the CTRL key to create a duplicate, then select the bottom circle center as the end of the reference line, shown below as point 2.

The result is shown below from 3 views.

Fully assembled Parts 1 and 2

At the completion of this task, change the view to Isometric, then flip the view again if done so previously.

---

Please Note

The mirrored part which was created from Part 2 should reside on the Part 2_Model layer. If this is not the case, select the mirrored part and use the Inspector to place this on the Part 2_Model layer.

---