sub assembly momotion 3

[Noxitec]

Hi guys,

Here's another one:

In an assembly there is an hydraulic cilinder, as a sub-assembly, witch I should be able to move up and down to make the main assembly. This doesn't work obviously!

First I assembled the cilinder out of various components. For the piston there is an advanced distance mate being used. So the cilinder has a max and min travel. This works fine in the assembly of the cilinder itself.

Now I put this assembly of the cilinder in my main assembly, witch is an elevator. At this point I'd like the table to be animated with a "motion study". This doesnt work, the cilinder can't be moved to its max or min travel position. It stays fixed in one position.

Can annyone shed his light on this.

thx

Noxi
SW2008SP4

 

[handleman]

Check "Flexible Subassemblies" in the help.

You will have to delete or suppress the limit distance mate in the subassembly if you want the cylinder position to be determined by other mates in the main assembly.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[TheTick]

I don't like flexible subassemlies, they don't seem to work right for me.

Usually I use a distance mate between the joints where the actuator attaches. I attach the main actuator assembly in retracted position, and the attach the cylinder to the other end so it is free to slide as the distance is changed.

This puts all the control at the assembly level.

For the cylinder, I use an envelope so that it does not show up in the BOM.

 

[Noxitec]

TheTick

This seems a good solution.

Only problem I have is that the cylinder-assy doesn't move when imported in the main assy.

When opened seperatly it slides. When inserted in another assy, every part stays fixed. I did not put anny mate between piston and cylinder.

Noxi
SW2008SP4

 

[smcadman]

Like Handleman stated, use Flexible Sub-assemblies. That is the only way you are going to be able to move a part of a sub-assembly inside of a top-level assembly.

Flores

 

[handleman]

I also try to avoid flexible subassemblies. They really hurt performance. The other issue you run into is that if you have multiple instances of the same flexible subassembly, each instance must be a different configuration.

-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)

 

[TheTick]

You need to bring the cylinder in as a separate component.

 

[ShaggyPE]

Right click on your cylinder sub-assy within the main assembly. Go to properties and set to "flexible". Also, as the others have stated, look up "flexible" in the help and it will walk you through it.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
Certified COSMOSWorks Designer Specialist

 

[Noxitec]

EUREKA

it works ! thanks guys !

I used fex assy and put an advanced distance mate to the piston to limit the travel. Animation ok



Noxi
SW2008SP4