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cam mate, path mate
2

cam mate, path mate

cam mate, path mate

(OP)
Is there a Solidworks' "Cam follower" and "path" mates equivalent on NX?

I know some people uses the distance mate for the path but that allows less control (such as rotation through the path)


regards

RE: cam mate, path mate

(OP)
Yes

RE: cam mate, path mate

The Assembly Constraint that I used in the example shown in the video was 'Touch', between the faces of the cam and cam-follower.

Now in my example, while it appears that the 'cam' (the circular barrel) face is made-up of separate faces, in reality there's another face (a sheetbody) which I created from the profile so that there is but a single face and it's THAT face which was used to create the Constraints. I then simply hid this extra face.

What version of NX are you running? If it's a recent version, I'll upload a copy of this example for you to look at.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: cam mate, path mate

(OP)
NX 8

What mates would you use to create a interactive Rubik cube?

Or something easier... to create a functional lock with a key:
the key pushes the pins.
the cylinder can be rotated when the key is completely inserted.

RE: cam mate, path mate

You mean something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldLh7L6ib1Q

Also attached is the 'Circular Cam' example shown in my original reply (last saved in NX 7.5). After opening the assembly, go to...

Assemblies -> Sequence...

...to play the 'simulation'.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: cam mate, path mate

(OP)
Do you have the assembly shown on the Rubik video?
I've found it at Grabcad but it was made with SW and its mates are not functional.



The video of the "circular cam" can be made with a SW "path mate", I think that's what you call touch mate in NX.

But how do you do something like this:
http://www.technologystudent.com/cams/snail1.htm


regards

RE: cam mate, path mate

Well it could certainly be done using NX Motion Simulation since that does not depend on (although it can leverage them if they exist) Assembly Constraints.

On second thought, I think I could actually make this work, at least for one cycle winky smile

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: cam mate, path mate

(OP)
Well done, JohnRBaker

I know we also need the gravity force to get it, but also some kind of mate.
Could you explain how did you get it, please?
Or could yo upload the part file, please?

thanks

What about the Rubik? I guess it would need some kind of programming because mates depend on each other.

RE: cam mate, path mate

Please don't read too much into what you see. This was done without using any 'simulation' code therefore gravity played no role whatsoever. It was done strictly by applying Assembly Constraints, leaving one degree of freedom (allowing the Cam to rotate) and they using the Assembly Sequencing function to provide the input motion (four turns of the Cam) and VIOLA, you've got at least a kinematic solution.

Attached is the Assembly. To see the motion, simply open the Assembly, and go to...

Assemblies -> Sequence...

...and then use the 'VCR' control icons to play the motion sequence.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

RE: cam mate, path mate

(OP)
Hello

I've tried your assembly.

I think this is a follow path motion and not a cam follower because it forces the "cam follower" piece to be always in contact with the eccentric cam.
Maybe we could get a cam follower by using min distance mates instead of fixed distances. That would allow the piece to "jump".
But then we would need a "gravity" force.

RE: cam mate, path mate

Didn't you read where I stated...

"Please don't read too much into what you see. This was done without using any 'simulation' code therefore gravity played no role whatsoever. It was done strictly by applying Assembly Constraints...

If you wanted an analytical result which takes into account the effects of physics then you will need to use a simulation product, which I can assure you was not how the cartoon you original provided a link to was created.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

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