Animating One Part in Assembly?

[SDO]

Hi,

Anyone knows if and how you can animate just one part in an assembly. Let's take for example an assembly of a fan. How can you make the propeller rotate (continuously) in an animation, and the rest of the parts (fan frame...) stay put?

Thanks,
Sorin

 

[SBaugh]

You need to mate the rest of the fan that is not suppose to move with usally at least 3 mates to hold it's position. Sometimes more mates are required, it just depends on the situation.

As for the fan blade I would probably only use 3 mates. One being a concentric mate to say the shaft that fan blade is going to ride on. Two coincident to where the blade bottoms out on the shaft. Three I would make it so the blade doesn't turn on the shaft. EX: A pin through the center of the shaft.

I would make the shaft the moveable part with 2 mates. One being Concentric to the motor. Two Coincident to the right height of the shaft.

If you have mated the the entire assembly correctly, the only part that should move would be the shaft and the fan blade. The rest of the fan should stay put. Then you can move the blade by picking the "move component" icon out of the assembly toolbar. It will not work continuously without you making move. If you want that then you need to buy SW animator and make a small movie file of your fan. But if the entire fan is moving you have not mated the fan properly.

If you require or would like some help on this issue feel free to email me.

Regards, Scott Baugh, CSWP
credence69@hotmail.com

 

[krishnamurthy]

Partially Mate the movable component so that the degree of freedom you allow is the movement required. Pick the Move icon and select the component. Start moving. It is animation. You can record a macro too. and play it for fast animation

 

[SDO]

Guys, thanks for the info, it is useful because I am still descovering SW, and other ways, or confirmation is always welcomed.

But, I have been unclear in my question, and I appologize, so I will try to correct that now: my problem starts after mating the assembly, as you both said, reducing the degreees of freedom to the point where only the one needed is still possible (propeller rotation). Yes, if I use the Move button on the propeller, it will rotate. But how can I create an animation out of it, a movie to show the rotation in a smooth motion. I thought the animation tools allow something like 1. part selection 2. motion data (axis, # of degrees....) 3. Go.

Is this possible?
If not, how do you do it? Activate screen capture, then rotate by hand? How do you make it a continuous smooth motion?

Thanks again
Sorin