SOLIDWORKS Advanced Width Mate – Taking It One Step Further!

SOLIDWORKS Advanced Width Mate is very useful in centering one component (identified as tab) between two planar faces.

If you are new to Advanced Width Mates, please take a look at SOLIDWORKS Width Mates and Constraints in the Width Mate.

Taking it one step further!

We can take this mate to a whole other level by using it for more than just centering two components. See below of an example where two components (red slotted plates) are spaced with either side of a third component (green frame). They will maintain an equal relation on distance on both sides. This will be very similar to a Mirror Components Pattern but is not limited to a straight path as can be seen in the example below.

Plates to be Advanced Mated

Click on the Mates command, choose the Advanced Mate category and then choose the Width Mate.

Choose Advanced Width Mate

Choose the two inner green walls for the Width Selections and the respective sides of either red slotted plates for the Tab Selections.

Select the Width and Tab Selections

Below is the end result with the red slotted plates equally distanced from either inner wall.

End Result: Equal Gap on Either Side