Multi-body assembly
Real products are assemblies. This walkthrough brings three components together with mates and verifies they actually fit using interference detection.
Before you start
- Three parts, or parts you import as STEP
- Familiarity with the Model workspace
- 1
Bring in the components
Switch to the Assembly workspace and add your three parts — for example a housing, a shaft, and a cover.
- 2
Fix the base component
Ground the housing so it stays put. Everything else will be positioned relative to it.
- 3
Add concentric and coincident mates
Mate the shaft concentric to the housing bore, then add a coincident mate to seat it at the right depth. The shaft snaps into position.
Tip: Build mates in the order you would physically assemble the parts — it keeps intent clear and the solve stable.
- 4
Mate the cover
Add a coincident mate between the cover and the top of the housing, and a concentric mate on the bolt pattern so the holes line up.
- 5
Check interference
Run interference detection. HelioCad highlights any overlapping volume so you can correct a fit before it reaches the shop. Adjust and re-check until it is clean.
What you built
A three-part assembly held together by mates and verified free of interference.
Follow along in HelioCad
Open a workspace and build it as you read. It runs in your browser — no install required.
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