New to SW. Sweep problem...

[kevlar129bp]

Hello all,

Newbie to SW. Done all of my models in Acad. I know, I know. Anyhow, I'm trying to teach this old dog new tricks, and am having a problem. I'm trying to draw an atv paddle tire, and when it comes to the paddles, I'm getting my butt kicked. Done this routine a million times in Acad, so I'm a bit frustrated. I've looked at virtually all the Youtube tuts, but to no avail. I figured a pic speaks a 1000 words so, here goes...

Thanks to all,
C

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

If you asking why you are only getting the profile swept along the path, it's because you are starting in the middle of the path. A sweep is not currently bi-directional; it can only be swept in one direction.

You have two options;
1) Mirror the result you have about the Front Plane.
2) Move the profile to one end of the path.

FYI, although it is not absolutely necessary for the profile to actually touch the path, it often creates a more stable solution if a Pierce constraint exists between the two.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Correction: That should have read, "If you asking why you are only getting the profile swept along half the path"

 

[kevlar129bp]

Thanks Cor,

I've actually tried mirroring and that has worked...but, when I proceed to a circular pattern, it fails with (could not find face or plane). After mirroring, I try to pattern the mirror AND the original sweep. Do I have to combine the two, in order to get it to work? I have tried to combine these two features prior, but that fails as well. I'm lost. Any help/assistance you can give me would be great. Thank you so much for your time.

C

 

[brengine]

kevlar129bp,

First follow CBL's tip make "the profile actually touch the path".

If that doesn't fix things:
Look at your options in the Circular Pattern Feature. Check-mark the "Geometry Pattern" and see if that fixes things.

Last resort I know of:
Other then that, you could create the paddle Feature as a Separate Body, and then Circular Pattern the "Body" (not the "Feature"). Not ideal but it my help? Note if you try this, you will have to create a new Circular Pattern (because you would be changing the Feature Scope from Feature to Body, this is a SolidWorks thing you'll have to work around).

Ken

 

[kevlar129bp]

thanks for your input guys. I followed cbl's tips. They must have helped, I got it to go. I did wind up patterning the body instead of the feature, although. Hopefully that's an acceptable practice. At any rate, I'm liking SW so far. Thanks again guys!

C

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Glad it's working for you now.

When dealing with multi-body parts, patterning the body is, more often than not, the only option. It most definitely is "acceptable practice".