Joints & Mates
Onshape calls them Mates; Fusion calls them Joints. Learn how Fusion joints hold an assembly together, then set up a gusset for the full frame.
01
Where We Are
You've been dropping parts in and locking them down. This exercise digs into how those locks actually work — Fusion's Joints, which Onshape calls Mates — and when to reach for each type to hold an assembly together.
02
Connect with Joints
Onshape's Mates are Fusion's Joints — they're how you hold an assembly together.
- Rigid for structure; Revolute or Slider for parts that move.
- Connect the middle tube first, then build out from it.
FUSION 360 · SCREENSHOT
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FIG 1
Common Joint Types
No Motion
- Rigid — locked solid (gussets, brackets)
- As-Built Rigid — lock parts where they already sit
Motion
- Revolute — spins (a shaft, a pivot)
- Slider — slides in a line (an elevator stage)
03
Complete?
Joint a few more parts on your frame.
- Use Rigid where nothing should move.
- Try a Revolute on something that should spin.
Recap
JOINTS & MATES
- Mates (Onshape) = Joints (Fusion)
- Rigid for structure, Revolute/Slider for motion
Your Task
Build this
- Model what this lesson covers in Fusion 360.
- Use the AltSkripts tools where they apply.
- Save it with a clear name.
How to submit
- In Fusion: Share → Public Link → Copy.
- Paste the link below.
- A coach reviews it in AltHub.