Introduction
Administration
User Interface
SolidWorks Fundamentals
Moving from 2D to 3D
Assemblies
Assemblies Overview
The FeatureManager Design Tree in an Assembly
Adding Components to an Assembly
Design Methods
Top-Down Design
Moving and Rotating Components
Mates
Mates Overview
FAQ Mates
Best Practices for Mates
Adding Mates
Modifying a Mating Relationship
Suppressing a Mating Relationship
Fixing the Position of a Component
Mating to Origins and Coordinate Systems
Mate PropertyManager
Mate PropertyManager - Analysis Tab
Mate Icons in the FeatureManager Design Tree
Types of Mates
Angle Mate
Coincident Mate
Concentric Mate
Distance Mate
Lock Mate
Parallel and Perpendicular Mates
Tangent Mate
Advanced Mates
Limit Mates
Linear/Linear Coupler Mate
Path Mate
Symmetry Mate
Width Mates
Mechanical Mates
SmartMates Overview
Mate References
Visualizing Mate Systems
Solving Mate Problems
Sub-assemblies
Controlling the Display of Assemblies
External Files
Detecting Problems
Component Patterns and Mirroring
Exploded Views in Assemblies
Other Assembly Techniques
Large Design Review
Improving Large Assembly Performance
CircuitWorks
Configurations
SolidWorks Costing
Design Checker
Design Studies in SolidWorks
Drawings and Detailing
DFMXpress
DriveWorksXpress
FloXpress
Import and Export
Large Scale Design
Model Display
Mold Design
Motion Studies
Parts and Features
Routing
Sheet Metal
Simulation
SimulationXpress
Sketching
Sustainability Products
SolidWorks Utilities
Tolerancing
Toolbox
Weldments
Workgroup PDM
Troubleshooting
Glossary
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Path Mate

A Path mate constrains a selected point on a component to a path. You define the path by selecting one or more entities in the assembly. You can define pitch, yaw, and roll of the component as it travels along the path.

To add a path mate:

  1. Click Mate (Assembly toolbar) or Insert, Mate.

  2. In the PropertyManager, under Advanced Mates, click Path Mate .

  3. Under Mate Selections:

    1. For Component Vertex, select the component vertex to attach to the path.

    2. For Path Selection, select contiguous curves, edges, and sketch entities. To facilitate selection, click SelectionManager.

  4. Under Advanced Mates:

    1. For Path Constraint, select one:

      • Free. Allows you to drag the component along the path.

      • Distance Along Path. Constrains the vertex to a specified distance from the end of the path. Enter the distance. Select Flip dimension to change which end the distance is measured from.

      • Percent Along Path. Constrains the vertex to a distance you specify as a percentage along the path. Enter the percentage. Select Flip dimension to change which end the distance is measured from.

The distance you specify in Distance Along Path or Percent Along Path is assigned the variable name D1@PathMate<n>, which you can use in equations, custom properties, and design tables.

  1. For Pitch/Yaw Control, select one:

    • Free. The pitch and yaw of the component are not constrained.

    • Follow Path. Constrains one axis of the component to be tangent to the path. Select X, Y, or Z. Select or clear Flip.

  2. For Roll Control, select one:

    • Free. The roll of the component is not constrained.

    • Up Vector. Constrains one axis of the component to align with the vector you select. Select a linear edge or planar face for Up Vector. Select X, Y, or Z. Select or clear Flip.

You cannot use the same axis for both Pitch/Yaw Control and Roll Control.

  1. Click .

 



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