In one embodiment, a technique is provided for creating assemblies of model objects in a modeling space of a computer aided design (CAD) application utilizing virtual connectors (i.e. “named intelligent connectors” (NICs)). Model objects may be associated with one or more NICs that represent possible points of connection to other model objects. In response to instructions in the user interface of the CAD application, a connection may be formed by recording invariant information in the NICs. Further, a connected position and orientation of a model object in a global coordinate system of the modeling space may be calculated using the invariant information in the NICs.
