Collision Detection

You can detect collisions with other components when moving or rotating a component. The software can detect collisions with the entire assembly or a selected group of components. You can find collisions for either the selected components or for all of the components that move as a result of mates to the selected components.

Physical Dynamics is an option in Collision Detection that allows you to see the motion of assembly components in a realistic way. With Physical Dynamics enabled, when you drag a component, the component applies a force to components that it touches, and moves the components if they are free to move.

To detect collisions as you move or rotate components:

1. Click Move Component or Rotate Component (Assembly toolbar).

2. In the PropertyManager, under Options, select Collision Detection.

3. Under Check between, select:

   • All components - If the component you are moving touches any other component in the assembly, the collision is detected.

   • These components - Select components for the Components for Collision Check box, then click Resume Drag. If the component you are moving touches a selected component, the collision is detected. Collisions with items that are not in the box are ignored.

4. Select Dragged part only to check for collisions with only the components that you selected to move. When cleared, the components that you selected to move, plus any other components that move because of mates with the selected components, are checked.

5. Select Stop at collision to stop the motion of the component when it touches any other entity.

6. Under Advanced Options, select:

   • Highlight faces - The faces that touch the component you are moving are highlighted.

   • Sound - The computer beeps when a collision is detected.

   • Ignore complex surfaces - Collisions are only detected on the following surface types: planar, cylindrical, conical, spherical, and toroidal.

     NOTE: The This configuration check box does not apply to Collision Detection, Physical Dynamics, or Dynamic Clearance. It applies only to Move Component or Rotate Component.

7. Move or rotate the component to detect collisions.

8. Click to finish and exit.