Mating to a curved slotted hole in solid works
Mating to a curved slotted hole in solid works
(OP)
Gidday,
I am using both 2001 and 2001+.
I am trying to model a spigot mating with a 'curved' slotted hole(ie the parts rotate about another centre and are restained by the curved slot). The spigot needs to be able to move in the slotted hole but be restrained by the ends of the slot, so that i can confirm the design. The slotted hole is situated on some cable chain, that rotates through a certain angle (yet to be confirmed). I have tried several ways and found that it could be done for a couple of links if i mate the inside surface of the slot with the outside surface of the spigot (cam tangent mate), but when i do this for ~50 links i get an over defined error/fully defined error.
if there is way of getting around this, it would be bloody good, if you could give me an answer in detail as although i have a pretty good handle on the basics i have only spent 20+ hrs on solid works.
Cheers
Ryan
I am using both 2001 and 2001+.
I am trying to model a spigot mating with a 'curved' slotted hole(ie the parts rotate about another centre and are restained by the curved slot). The spigot needs to be able to move in the slotted hole but be restrained by the ends of the slot, so that i can confirm the design. The slotted hole is situated on some cable chain, that rotates through a certain angle (yet to be confirmed). I have tried several ways and found that it could be done for a couple of links if i mate the inside surface of the slot with the outside surface of the spigot (cam tangent mate), but when i do this for ~50 links i get an over defined error/fully defined error.
if there is way of getting around this, it would be bloody good, if you could give me an answer in detail as although i have a pretty good handle on the basics i have only spent 20+ hrs on solid works.
Cheers
Ryan






RE: Mating to a curved slotted hole in solid works
You can try this:
Starting in SolidWorks 2001Plus, when you MOVE a component there is an option called PHYSICAL DYNAMICS, select this and you can simulate complex motion (without complex mates).
From the SolidWorks Help:
With Physical Dynamics enabled, when you drag a component, the component applies a force to components that it touches. The effect is to move or rotate contacted components within their allowable degrees of freedom. The dragged component reacts to a collision by rotating within its allowable degrees of freedom or by sliding against a constrained or partially constrained component to allow the drag to continue.
cheers,
Joseph
RE: Mating to a curved slotted hole in solid works
I've used this when a part has to follow a non-linear but predetermined path, such as a curved slot centerline:
1.)Make a sketch of the centerline, part with the slot.
2.) Extrude a surface from this sketch
3.) Mate the axis of the bolt (or spigot) to the centerline surface with a coincident mate.
It's a little roundabout, but it may help you skirt the learning curve for physical dynamics if time is an issue.
RE: Mating to a curved slotted hole in solid works
The other interesting trick I used some time ago was to get a sphere to mate to this type of cam surface. I actually added a very narrow (.001) cylindrical surface entity the same diameter as the sphere in the sphere part. Since a cylinder mate works, it performed what I needed. (You can hide the surface if need be.)
RE: Mating to a curved slotted hole in solid works
I had already tried the collision detection/physical dynamics approach, but with ~50 links in my chain with one end of the chain fixed and the other on a floating part and then moving the floating end takes an bloody long time. The concentric mates at the pivot point and the physical dynamic collision detection of the spigot agianst the slotted hole all seem to be fighting each other. I currently have only tried physical dynamics with spigots mating with slotted holes on both sides of the chain, so i will try it with only one side having the slot, this will hopefully increase the speed by two fold.. Also i found that the spigot needs to be smaller in diameter than that of the slot otherwise it introduces restaint all the way along the slot travel instead of just at the ends... To make this work i think i have to simplify the situation as far as possible..
I had tried The Ticks idea of mating the centre of the spigot with the surface of the slot centre line, it did restrain the centre of the spigot to the surface of the extrusion but it did not restrain the spigot to the end of the slot..I obviously had an error as i had wanted to mate the centreline of the spigot to the surface i had extruded of the centre line of the slot as a coincident mate, therefore the centreline of the spigot should not have left the surface??? I will try this on a stright slot..
I will try JNR's trick after i have sorted if i can do it another way. I will have to check out how to sketch a spline over a path first..
Cheers
Ryan
Ryan.coatsworth@mooring.co.nz
RE: Mating to a curved slotted hole in solid works
Your approach seems good. Like you said simplifying will help.
If motion simulation is critical you may want to consider some add ons:
1) COSMOS Motion
2) Motion Works
I believe they can simulate chains, but it would be good for you to get an evaluation copy first.
cheers,
Joseph
RE: Mating to a curved slotted hole in solid works
I have cosmos motion and are doing a few tutorials to get the hang of it..
but i hadn't heard of motion works untill now.. I will look into that..
cheers
Ryan Coatsworth
ryan.coatsworth@mooring.co.nz