Surface on surface

Surface on Surface

This command constrains a surface of the part to be included in relation to a surface of the destination geometry.

Creation stages / Use:

Click the icon or select the Assembly > Other constraints > Surface on surface... command from the drop-down menu.

It is also possible to add constraints in a configuration of a mechanism. In this case, select the Mechanism > Other constraints > Surface on surface... command from the drop-down menu.

1. Select a surface on the geometry to be included.

2. Select a surface on the destination geometry.

3. Enter the offset.

The Surface on surface positioning can either be:

a contact (the geometries oppose each other in relation to the surfaces selected).
an alignment (the geometries are on the same side in relation to the surfaces selected).

An offset can be entered between the 2 surfaces.

Surfaces are always consider as unlimited.

Summary of the different supported cases for the Surface on surface constraint.
Surface / surface	Plane	Cylinder	Cone	Sphere	Torus
Plane					(1)
Cylinder
Cone			(2)
Sphere
Torus	(1)

(1) A torus is only constrained if it is positioned with a surface which is a plane. The contact or the alignment of the torus with this plane is punctual.

(2) When 2 cones are selected, some limitations exist:

- If a full cone is constrained with a hollow cone, its angle must be smaller or equal to the hollow cone angle.
- Also in this case, the vertex of each cone (even if they are truncated) are coincident.
- The contact or the alignment between two cones is always linear. (The axis is projected on the surface, it is this projected line which is in contact with the equivalent line of the other cone).
- When the conicities are different, you have to use the profile on plane constraint.

Depending on the surface orientation, you will get a cone on cone or a cone in cone positioning:

	Face selection (case #1)	Face selection (case #2)	Result
Cone on cone positioning
Cone in cone positioning

Available Options:

Reverse:

Allows to reverse the offset side. This option is also available by clicking the label arrow.

Modifications / Additional information:

The modification can be carried out either via the popup menu with the Edit surface on surface command or by clicking on the labels.

The double-click:

On the 2 surfaces, change the direction of a surface (contact / alignment).
On the name, renames the constraint.
On the arrow, reverses the direction of the offset.
On the value, changes the value of the offset.