Changing the length of a spring within an assembly?
Changing the length of a spring within an assembly?
(OP)
Hi,
I have an assembly and within it I have a spring. The spring has been modelled with a helix and tube feature and has an expression controlling the length.
In the assembly I have a mating condition and the length of the spring is relevant to the distance between two objects. I can take a measurement of the distance, save it as an expression then interlink it to the spring which is fine.
However, if I want to use this spring in different assemblies(and release the part within TCEng)the length is going to differ from assemby to assembly.
Is there anyway I can do this without creating a different spring evertime?
Many thanks in advance
I have an assembly and within it I have a spring. The spring has been modelled with a helix and tube feature and has an expression controlling the length.
In the assembly I have a mating condition and the length of the spring is relevant to the distance between two objects. I can take a measurement of the distance, save it as an expression then interlink it to the spring which is fine.
However, if I want to use this spring in different assemblies(and release the part within TCEng)the length is going to differ from assemby to assembly.
Is there anyway I can do this without creating a different spring evertime?
Many thanks in advance
Mark Noyce
Senior Design Engineer/CAD co-ordinator





RE: Changing the length of a spring within an assembly?
RE: Changing the length of a spring within an assembly?
Mark Noyce
Senior Design Engineer/CAD co-ordinator
RE: Changing the length of a spring within an assembly?
Deformable parts are the go. Under Tools>Define Deformable part.
I created an expression in the spring file for the length and used it to drive the pitch of the helix. I then defined the deformation nominating helix and tube as the deformable features, and the length as the variable expression.
Then I created an assembly and added a couple of springs to it. When you first add a deformable part you are prompted for the variable expression, in this case the length. So I was able to add two springs of different lengths.
In the assembly I created expressions for the spring length and I edited the expression values created in the list to support deformable parts such that they are now driven by those values.
It should work ok!
Best regards
Hudson
RE: Changing the length of a spring within an assembly?
One more question, does this stop me being able to release the part within TCEng?
Mark Noyce
Senior Design Engineer/CAD co-ordinator
RE: Changing the length of a spring within an assembly?
I can't see why it would, but knowing that one of the bigger users of Teamcentre are GM, who have recently implemented a new checkmate system you may have to experiment if they are your target audience.
Check that you can baseline at least the spring component, but in may not be proven until you have established you can also baseline the assembly.
Regards
Hudson
RE: Changing the length of a spring within an assembly?