Hinge simulation
Hinge simulation
(OP)
New user trying to model a simple pair of hinges. I got one hinge to work in an assembly file. By "work", I mean I could drag one leaf back and forth given its degrees of freedom.
I now place two of these hinge assemblies into another assembly. Each hinge has one leaf attached to an immovable object. I tried attaching the "free" leaf to a rigid object face, to allow the SW user to drag the object back and forth through an arc. However, when I try this, I get a message saying object is immovable. I also tried mating the two movable leaf faces to be coincident, but that didn't seem to work either.
It seems like this should be a pretty easy thing to do. What am I missing??
I now place two of these hinge assemblies into another assembly. Each hinge has one leaf attached to an immovable object. I tried attaching the "free" leaf to a rigid object face, to allow the SW user to drag the object back and forth through an arc. However, when I try this, I get a message saying object is immovable. I also tried mating the two movable leaf faces to be coincident, but that didn't seem to work either.
It seems like this should be a pretty easy thing to do. What am I missing??






RE: Hinge simulation
I know there is limitation (SW04) with having more then one of the same sub-assemblies set to flexible. Only one would work.
Regards,
Scott Baugh, CSWP
http://www.3dvisiontech.com
http://www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
RE: Hinge simulation
Right-click the hinge assy and select Properties. In the lower-right corner, there should be an area called Solve As with 3 options. Select Flexible.
For more info see SW Help index for flexable sub-assemblies.
"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Hinge simulation
RE: Hinge simulation
If you only placed each half into the assy, then you should be able to mate one half to your fixed part and the other half to another part. A simple concentric mate at the center where the pin should be should provide the DoF you are looking for. It should work, we must be missing something.
"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Hinge simulation
However, when I mated the item to be hinged to the free leaves, it didn't jump into position on the leaf, nor could I rotate the item through the arc.
I'll try some of the Flexible suggestion and see if that changes anything.
RE: Hinge simulation
RE: Hinge simulation
"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?
RE: Hinge simulation
RE: Hinge simulation
RE: Hinge simulation
When designing hinge movement, I usually find it necessary to split the entire top level assembly into two main subassemblies, a fixed portion and a moving portion. Half the hinge goes on the fixed portion, and half on the moving.
Define the pivot axis as in each of the two main subassemblies using sketches to place a main datum axis. This helps avoid mate trouble.
As far as the BOM goes, try inserting the "working" hinge leaves as envelopes.