We have had many situations where we need to simulate a rectangular shaped object rotating at a certain distance away from a rotating shaft (like a pallet on a chain) but we only need to check for interference. There may be other ways to do this but we found that we can constrain the base of the pallet inside tangent at an offset to the shaft so the distance away is correct. Now if you constrain the side (90-degrees from the base and parallel to the shaft) inside tangent with an offset to the same shaft (width of the pallet - dia of shaft / 2) and this is like sitting the pallet against the shaft in a hypothetical "V"-block.
This allows you to rotate the pallet around the shaft as if it was rotary attached to it. You can also constrain it from an end of the shaft so it doesn't float along the length of the shaft. We did this with Inventor 9 but I am sure it will work with SolidWorks or anything else like it.
Was a pretty big find for us and hope it helps someone else out there :O)
Have fun,
Scott
~ Phlyx ~
This allows you to rotate the pallet around the shaft as if it was rotary attached to it. You can also constrain it from an end of the shaft so it doesn't float along the length of the shaft. We did this with Inventor 9 but I am sure it will work with SolidWorks or anything else like it.
Was a pretty big find for us and hope it helps someone else out there :O)
Have fun,
Scott