×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Chain Construction, how to pattern mates in assembly?

Chain Construction, how to pattern mates in assembly?

Chain Construction, how to pattern mates in assembly?

(OP)
I'm constructing two types of chains: A simple roller chain running across two sprockets. And a drag chain with attached connectors and flights. So it will need to be simulated, and not just a fixed part. The "Curve Driven Pattern" is not acceptable in my case.

I've search across these forums before submitting this, and have found questions relevant to mine, but have not found an answer suitable for my needs.

Running SW2010, I have the first assembly created with outer links, inner links, pins and rollers with 10 necessary mates each.

Lets say my assembly requires 200 chain link subassemblies, that's 2000 mates I'd rather not create manually.

Is there any possible way to create a linear pattern, and have to mates copied too?


I've already seen this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUm30f3BNDc

He created the assembly similar to what I need, but only gives instructions for the path. He does not mention about patterning the mates.

RE: Chain Construction, how to pattern mates in assembly?

I don't know of a method for patterning mates, but there are definately ways to make it easier.

If you look up mate references you should be able to get to a stage where you just pull the parts into the assembly and they automatically mate.  You may need to create left and right hand versions of pins etc so that they mate on the correct side of the chain.

I would also suggest creating a 10 long sub assembly, then mating these sub assemblies 20 times to save you a bit of work.

Craig Pretty
Tru-Design Plastics

RE: Chain Construction, how to pattern mates in assembly?

(OP)
Thanks cpretty. I did attempt the sub assembly method. I consolidated the inner link, roller, and pin as one part requiring only 6 mates. Although I got sloppy with the mates, and applied them in a random order. When I applied a cam mate for the path the chain was malfunctioning or was overdefined.

I should have known there was an easier way to mate. This'll probably save an hour. [9(6)+3(12)= 90 Mts/sub-assy*.2= 18-20mins]+[48 s.assy (6)mates = 294*.4 = 118 mins]+[Import, Chain Path, Simulation = 20 mins]= Total 2 hrs 40 mins that could have been greatly reduced if solidworks had a patternable mate.

My home PC only has 1CH 1GB RAM, so I do need to spare some resources. If I create a multi body part for the two outer links I only need 4. Considering the 500 chain links, 80 flights and connectors, trough, motor, misc. I'm looking at 1800 components and 5000 mates, so I'd need 600+ MB RAM available if I keep everything minimum-moderate detail. Anyway I can conserve working memory?

RE: Chain Construction, how to pattern mates in assembly?

In addition to using subassemblies, you could try: Insert -> Component -> Copy with mates.  I would still grab several connected links and copy them all at the same time.

Eric

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources