Multi-Instantiating Fasteners

You can create several fastener instances in a single operation from the same fastener reference, along a guide curve or a list of points and with their own associated engineering connection.

This task shows you how to:

Create the Multiple Instances

You can first create the multiple instances.

  1. Click Multi-Instantation of Fasteners .

    The Multi-Instantiation of Unitary Fasteners Definition dialog box is displayed.

  2. Create or select the fastener reference (that will be instantiated).

    • Select an existing instantiated fastener instance in order to get its fastener reference,
    • Create a fastener reference by right-clicking the field and selecting the New > Spot Single or Spot Assembly contextual item.

      Refer to Creating a New Fastener Reference for more information.

    • Search the fastener reference in a catalog by right-clicking the field and selecting the Catalog contextual item.
    • Search the fastener reference from the PLM Chooser by right-clicking the field and selecting the Existing contextual item.

    Each spot fastener instance is coupled with a fastener engineering connection used to store the list of fastened parts and define the positioning of constraints if needed.

  3. Select the joined zones, i.e. the set of parts to fasten.

  4. Click Fastening Assistant to use the assistant to define the fastener parts.

    Refer to Defining an Engineering Connection Using the Assistant

  5. Select the Create into the closest common node option to aggregate the spot fastener instance under the first common product corresponding to the fastened parts. If this option is cleared, the spot fastener instance will be created and aggregated under the active product.

  6. Locate the multiple instances as explained below.

  7. Click OK to create the multiple instances.

    All created fastener instances are independent, i.e. when you edit a fastener instance, the modification applies only for this instance.

Locate the Multiple Instances

You can use various methods to locate the multiple spot fasteners.

  1. Select the Location tab.

  2. Select the location method:

Repeat the Selected Instances

You can use the repeat parameters when selecting the On Curve or Point On Parallel Curve On Surface location method.

  1. Select either the On Curve or Point On Parallel Curve On Surface location method.

    The Repeat dialog box is displayed. It shows the Ref. End Point that corresponds to the extremity of the curve by default. You can choose the other extremity by clicking Extremity as well as selecting a point or a spot point.

  2. Select the repeat Parameters:

Instance(s)

You can define the number of instances to be created. The distance between two successive points is automatically computed, fasteners are equidistant and the last repeated fastener is positioned on the curve end point. The spacing between two successive fasteners is computed.

  1. Define the number of instances to be created in the Instance(s) field.

  2. Optional: Specify a Spacing To Ref. End Point to define the working curve length: enter a spacing value to specify the end of the working curve length. The pitch is automatically updated and the reference end point is the end point of the curve.

  3. Optional: Clear the With end point option if you do not want the last created spot to be located on the end point. It is not mandatory that the end point be located on the curve end.

    Instances = 4, Spacing To Ref. End Point = 10mm, With end point option selected

Pitch

You can define a spacing value between two consecutive fasteners. The number of instances created do not exceed the working curve length.

  1. Define the number of spacing value in the Pitch field.

  2. Optional: Specify a Spacing To Ref. End Point to define the working curve length: enter a spacing value to specify the end of the working curve length. The reference end point is the end point of the curve.

  3. Optional: Select the Best Fit Pitch And Instance(s) option to automatically compute the best pitch and the corresponding fastener instances. It lets you optimize the distribution of the created fasteners on the working curve length. A new pitch is computed to comply with both Spacing To Ref. End Point and Best Fit Pitch And Instance(s) defined values. The With end point option appears and is selected by default. It is not mandatory that the end point be located on the curve.

    Pitch = 50mm, Spacing To Ref. End Point = 80mm, With Best Fit Pitch And Instance(s) options cleared

Instances & Pitch

You can define the number of instances and spacing value. Spots are created towards the end point and can be created after the end point.

  1. Define the number of instances to be created in the Instances field.

  2. Define the number of spacing value in the Pitch field.

  3. Optional: Specify a Spacing To Ref. End Point to define the working curve length: enter a spacing value to specify the end of the working curve length. The reference end point is the end point of the curve.

    Instances = 6, Pitch = 30mm