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Sometimes you will have to rotate the model to achieve the correct view in order to select faces or edges. There are also times when you will want to pre-position so that the model snaps into the correct position automatically. You can rotate individual parts in an assembly by clicking and dragging with the RMB. (Dragging the RMB over a part rotates that part.) You rotate the view by dragging with the middle mouse button, or MMB. You can move parts by dragging them with the left mouse button, or LMB. You can pan the view by pressing Ctrl and dragging with the MMB. When you drag a part with the LMB while the Mate PropertyManager is active, SolidWorks does not add the selected entity to the Mate Selections list.

To summarize these actions:

• To rotate an individual component in an assembly, click and drag with the RMB.

• To move an individual component in an assembly, drag with the LMB.

• To rotate an assembly view, drag with the MMB.

• To pan an assembly view, Ctrl+drag with the MMB.

Also, be aware of the view manipulation tools, available by clicking the triad in the lower-left corner:

• To rotate normal to an axis, click the triad axis in that direction.

• To rotate by 15° about an axis (you can specify the angle at Tools⇒Options⇒View), Alt+click the triad axis in that direction.

• To rotate by 90° about an axis, Shift+click the triad axis in that direction.

• To activate the mouse gesture wheel, drag the RMB in blank space (dragging the RMB over a part rotates the part).

• To zoom to fit, double-click the MMB in the graphics window (same as using the F hotkey).

Tip

If you have a Spaceball or other 3D motion controller, you can perform all these actions easily and simultaneously using one hand for view rotations and the other hand for selections. You can also use a Spaceball to move parts.

Applying the Select Other command

The Select Other command enables you to select items that are hidden by other items. It is often used to select faces that are hidden behind other faces without rotating the part. You can apply the Select Other command through the RMB menu. Right-click where the face would be if you could see it. A list of entities displays. You can select the entity you want from this list or from the graphics window.

Moving your mouse over an entity in the list highlights the entity in the graphics window. Pressing Tab or scrolling the mouse wheel cycles through the entities one by one. Clicking faces with the RMB hides them, which enables you to see farther down into the part or assembly. Clicking with the LMB in either the graphics window or the selection list box selects the item. Figure 5.3 shows the Select Other cursor and dialog box.

FIGURE 5.3

The Select Other cursor and dialog box

Although you can use this selection method for other purposes, it is often used for selecting faces for mating.

Using Multiple Mate mode

Multiple Mate mode enables you to select one face in order to mate multiple parts to it. Figure 5.4 shows the interface for this mode, which you can toggle to from the Mate PropertyManager interface. The Multiple Mate mode icon looks like a paper clip with a lightning bolt running through it. This function works only with the Standard Mate types, not with any of the Advanced mates, which are discussed later in this chapter.

FIGURE 5.4

The Multiple Mate mode interface

You can create a special folder for all the multiple mates by selecting the Create multi-mate folder check box in the Mate Selections PropertyManager. You can also automatically link the values for distance and angle mates with link values by selecting the Link dimensions check box. When you use the Link Dimensions check box, distance or angle values for mates made in multi-mate mode will be set equal with link values.

Taking advantage of SmartMates

SmartMates are mates that you can create automatically by dragging one part onto another without invoking the Mate command. There are three different methods that you can use to apply SmartMates:

• Alt+dragging the part