Component Assembly and Anchors

Anchors are used for assembly purposes. When anchors between geometries coincide, assembly is completed.

Strictly speaking, an Anchor is not a point, but a coordinate system. For two coordinate systems to be equal, their origins must coincide and their rotation directions must be the same.

Note

Anchor Assembly Example

As shown in the figure below, there are two components, each with two anchors, {AnchorA,AnchorB} and {AnchorC,AnchorD} respectively. The two components are assembled by making AnchorB and AnchorC coincide.

Worktable Anchor and Workpiece Anchor

Both workpiece and fixture have a workpiece anchor (WorkpieceBuckle), and both machine tool and fixture have a worktable anchor (TableBuckle), used to assemble workpiece, fixture, and machine tool.

Note

Workpiece Fixture Assembly Example

Workpiece and fixture are assembled by making their workpiece anchors (WorkpieceBuckle) coincide.

If no fixture is set, the workpiece will be assembled with the machine tool through the workpiece anchor and the machine tool through the worktable anchor.

Spindle Anchor and Tool Holder Anchor

Both tool holder and machine tool have a spindle anchor (SpindleBuckle), and both tool holder and tool head have a tool holder anchor (HolderBuckle), used to assemble tool head, tool holder, and machine tool.

If no tool holder is set, the tool head will be assembled with the machine tool through the tool holder anchor and the machine tool through the spindle anchor.