can anyone tell me why I can’t make equation between my spring’s tall dimension and limit distance any of one part? when I press OK, a window appear with this warn.
“this equation uses configuration specific properties from another configuration. Consider suppresing the equation and creating another equation for this configuration”
Attachment – 2010_5_26_14_25
Tagged: assembly RSS
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ilo_junior
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Ben
I have an assembly with PartA and PartB. PartA has 12 configurations where it changes size. PartB is driven by PartA with a dependant sketch and a cavity fearture. I need PartB to have configurations to match the PartA configurations.
For the love of all that is holy please tell me there is a way to automate this as I have hundreds of these files to process
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Jeff2486
Torsion spring movement in assembly
I saw the video of how to construct a compression spring that will provide movement in assemblies, very helpful. Does anyone know how to make a torsion spring work in an assembly? As it is wound, the OD of the spring will need to get smaller in size. Thank you in advance,
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Ben
Hummm this is a good challenge… Not really an answer per-se but something I just played with:
So there is some formula work to deal with here. What we need to determine is what the diamter (radius) change is in relation to the degrees of change in torsion.
I have made a spring using a sweep funtcion (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8X0JMtx4ZIs)
Now the radius is 2.5″ and the spring is 1080 degrees rotation so I made an assumption that for every degree added to the 1080 it will compress the 2.5″ to 2.4″ or 0.1″ (just an example) . So the fromula we put into the dimension for the radius is the number of degrees times a constant to get us the ratio. I am for simplicy going to use 0.002 as the contstant.
Click on tools-equations, then double click the model and choose the radius dimension and click the add button on the equation dialog. then click on the degrees of rotation and multiply it by 0.002 to get the equation:”D1@Sketch1″ = “D1@Sweep1″*.002
Now if you change the rotational degrees of the spring the diameter will change too.
Note: if you try and double click on the degree dimension it will not let you edit it but if you single click on it, it will…
Now all of this is really rough but hopefully it will give you something to work with or try.
Attachment – 2010_5_3_13_58 -
Ben
Grrrr the constant I have increases the radius but I hope that gives you an idea of how to use the formulas to get this effect. I am not sure how to animate it though… but it is a start.
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dave spencer
Im new to analyzing forces on parts. I am trying to do this but it is a small assembly. Is there a way to easily merge an assembly into a single part.
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Ben
Dave
Choose ‘Save As’ in the file menu and then in the ‘Save As Type’ drop down choose part (this is just below the filename). Then make sure to choose the ‘All Components’ radio button under the ‘Geometry to save’ heading.
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Ben
Another thing to keep in mind is that I am sure you are using the Cosmos express module. If you or your company have SW premium there is a full blown version that you can install and then doing an analysis on an assembly is possible. However in a few cases it is more expedient to do it the way you are currently.
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dave spencer
thanks Ben, new question now. The simulation shows how the part bends under load. When I ran it I thought “whoa, that bent more than I thought!” I ended up rerunning the simulation with less and less force and at 10000 lbf and 1 lbf it still bends the same. What I am looking for is will my part deform at a 10,000 lb load. How do I find this?
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Ben
What you ‘see’ is an exageration of the bending not the actual bending. You need to look at a deformation plot (the numbers not the graphic) to see the deflections. I cannot remember how but you can right click on the results and then set the deformation scale to zero and then see real world representations of what is predicted to happen. Still put your faith in the numbers not what the display is showing you.
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rendy_mustang
hi guys, I’m just learn about blocks in SW 2009 and find it very useful and helpful. I want to build such a suspension system from scratch using that blocks. Is there anyone having an experience in building a car suspension with blocks. If there, please kindly transfer and share your knowledge to me.thx
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rendy_mustang
designing spring mass system
Hello everyone,,I’m a newbie in Solidworks. I want to build a spring mass system respectively so that it can oscillate along the x axis..I’m using Solidworks 2009. Can anyone help me? If possible please give me advice/explanation/link where I could learn more..thx..
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CBL
In the RH side bar is a section called Categories. Click the down chevron and selct Videos from the dropdown list. That section will take you to loads of tutorials created by Ben … one of them showing how to animate a spring.
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rendy_mustang
Where can I find the RH side bar??sorry.. I’m quite new..
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CBL
RH = Right Hand -
gupta9665
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Ben
Here is a repost from a comment to another post
Hi al,
I have been trying to create a working energy chain within an assembly model. I wondered if anyone had any suggestions on how to maintain the correct radius of the chain when moving the assembly it is mated to.
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Ben
I need a cam follower to correctly follow the attached cam path. The cam mate doesn’t work because of the slope. Using a projected curve or split face to create edges or sketch geometry is also not ideal as projection/conversion is not precise enough to allow the yellow part to obey it’s concentric mate and path mate at all points along the cam. HELP!
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Ben
Can you post the model for us to play with?
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gupta9665
Make sure all faces are tangent. As a workaround, try converting all the cam faces into one face and add a tangent mate.
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bhughesnles
I’ll post the model this evening. All faces are already tangent as they were created with a wrap feature which had all tangent arcs. What’s your proposed method to convert all the faces into one face? Typically this is accomplished by using a spline to do the cut in the first place.
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gupta9665
Delete all the faces. Create 3d sketches and convert them into sing;e spline. Finally loft them.
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Alan
I have several assemblies with two configurations. The only difference between the two configurations is that there are a few parts with a different configuration. Is there a way to apply the same exploded view to the second assembly without having to do it manually a second time?
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JeffM
If I remember correctly, you should be able to drag/drop the first exploded view into the second configuration. Naturally you’ll end up with some errors, but it should be quicker.
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Alan
When I try that in the Config Manager, I just get the circle with the diagonal line indicating that I can’t do that.
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MarkKaiser
It’s just finicky. Try dragging the exploded view above the config name you want to copy to, that’s how it’s working for me in 09. You need to have the config active that you are copying the exploded view from also.
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Alan
I’m running SW09SP2, and here is what I am trying,
Config A
Config A exploded
Config BWith Config A exploded open/active, lmb (or rmb) drag down to Config B, circle with diagonal line.
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MarkKaiser
Alan,
I’m not sure why it isn’t working for you. I get the circle with diagonal line, then when I drag it somewhere it can copy, it changes to a down and to the left arrow with a small plus sign next to it. Then it copies. If you’re dragging down (in the config tree), it may look like it’s dropping another copy under the active config, but it’s actually dropping a copy under the config below it.
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Alan
I must have been moving my cursor too fast and didn’t see the left arrow. Thank you.
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Ben
I have been trying for a couple days to insert a sub-assembly into a assembly with mate references and it wont work for me any ideas? – I have both mate references listed as the Floor and being coincident
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DanO518
SWx08_sp4 I can’t move ( LMB clk hold n drag)parts inserted into my assembly. The part has no mates assigned it is not fixed no (f) next to in tree. And system options/ assembly move components by dragging is checkd. Same parts will move if inserted into new test assembly. Don’t see anything under options doc props tab. I there somewhere else to look. Thank you. Dan
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JeffM
Out of curiosity, if you use the ‘Move component’ icon on your assembly toolbar, will it move then?
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DanO518
Tried that. Move free drag won’t move either.
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JeffM
That is a really strange error. Where it only happens in one assembly, I’d have to say that the assembly file is corrupted in some way.
If you do a ‘save-as’ and rename the assembly, will it work then? It’s a long shot, but worth trying.
One thing that your VAR will probably tell you is to upgrade to SP5.0. While I doubt it’ll have an effect, it’s worth trying too. -
Chris Serran
Do you use a 3DConnexion device? Is “Check for collision during sub-part movement” checked under 3Dcontrol properties?
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DanO518
Thanks guys for the help. Yeah I figured I’ve got a polluted assembly. Never know when your missing something simple, doesn’t hurt to ask.
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RodUding
Does any one have problems with SW randomly crasihing when inserting parts or sub-assemblies into an assembly. The crashes will occur whether I pull from my C: drive or the network.
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mattl
Rod,
No, I haven’t seen any random crash problems.
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solidsmack
I’ve seen this in 2009 SP0 and 1 when there is a conflicting external file referenced. meaning, a part being pulled into an assembly is coming in read-only when it should not be.
I had a drawer assembly, with drawer slide coming in as read-only (it will say ‘read-only’ when you select to open a part and click the references button.)
I have to repoint the reference manually and then when I drop the assembly or part in the assembly it will not crash.
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Doug
Yes
When I open a ass and select one of the part or ass to edit. If I tab back to the ass bommmm -
RodUding
For me, it is totally random. I might insert 20 or 30 parts in a row just fine. Then have it crash, restart and be just fine. This occured mostly in 2006 and 2008. Since we skipped the 2007 version, I have no idea how it would have performed. I will have to be sure to check the read only status on the parts and assy’s that it crashes on the next time.
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Matt
Question About Assemblies
I am trying to model something that has two parts. Part A is always the same. The second part has several different versions (call them B, C, D, etc.). I would like to use an assembly to be able to swap out B, C, etc.. However, their needs to be a fillet at the mate between A and B,C,whatever. Is there any way to add that in when creating the assembly?-
behnt
You could save the assembly as a part and then add the fillet after joining the bodies.
Or you could make a derived part out of the assembly by using the join function and fillet the derived part.
This is from the help menu under 'Creating a Joined Part' :
Create the parts that you want to join, then create an assembly containing the parts.
Position the parts as desired in the assembly. The parts may either touch each other or intrude into one another.
Save the assembly but do not close the window.
Insert a new part into the assembly:
Click New Part on the Assembly toolbar, or click Insert, Component, New Part.
Click a plane or planar face on a component.
In the new part, a sketch opens on the selected plane.
Close the sketch. Because you are creating a joined part, you do not need the sketch.
In the FeatureManager design tree, right-click the new part name, select Rename Part, and rename the new part.
Click Insert, Features, Join.
Make selections and set options in the Join PropertyManager.
Click to create the joined part.
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Chris Serran
You may have more success with inserting Part A into Part B, C, D at the part level using Insert -> Part. This will allow you to insert a fillet between Part A and it's mate, assembly features can only cut material away.
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behnt
This is a good solution but keep in mind that when inserting Part B into A that if you update part B make sure that Part A is open and update part A immediately as the parametrics on a part within a part is kludgy. I haven't tested this with 2009 but 2008 and earlier require this added step to make sure the parametrics are correct.
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Chris Serran
I'm curious in what type of application requires you to do this? If you need to put a fillet between the two components wouldn't they be one part?
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Matt
Thanks for all the help.
In answer to Chris' question about the application:
We are making detailed models of bolts and screws to be rendered for a catalog. There are a couple of different threaded bodies and several head styles. We want to be able to re-use the threaded body from one fastener for another with a different head style. However, many of the heads have a fillet between the body and the head.
So we want to take the threaded body A and attach several different heads. Then if we improve the thread model… update all the resulting models so we can easily re-render them.At least that is the theory.
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behnt
If you put a small shank on the head(s) then you can fillet it and put it in the assembly with the fillet. But I wonder why you do not make configurations of the threaded shank with the different heads? You can suppress the head geometry of one and build the other etc etc….
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Chris Serran
You could also model the fillet in the revolve of the thread body, that way it matches with whatever head you use.
In addition to Ben's comment, you could do this in one part with a design table and configurations.
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Matt
Got it working using the derived part method. Seems to work for what we need it for.
Thanks Behnt -
Matt
We will be using design tables to drive the thread length, diameter, etc.
We didn't want to make a fillet on the thread side because some of the heads do not mate at 90 degrees (like a flat head screw).
We thought about just suppressing the geometry but we wanted to keep things simpler both for the design table and for our editing.
Putting a short shank on the head might work but we were looking for something more elegant.
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dave spencer
in an assembly can I space multiple objects on a rack by # of objects and edges of rack; or do I always have to measure and calc distance. (looking for a solution like the width mate)
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Ben
So are you looking to have a set number of parts equally spaced along a line?
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cserran
If you’re using a linear pattern you can drive the distance with an equation.
or
If there are features on the rack (ie. holes) you can drive those in the rack and then position your objects using a feature based pattern. -
admin
Another work around I have used (This one is kinda kludgy) create a part within a part and use a ‘Cruve Driven Pattern’. Here is how it is done. You can put a part within a part, when in a part choose insert-part, the dialog will take you through the insert and you can mate it like it was an assembly. Next choose insert-pattern-curve driven pattern. Choose a line that has the direction on it you want and the distance between the end points you want (i.e. the distance between the first and last components to be patterned, you will likely need to make a sketch for this and use the sketch line) last in the curve driven pattern choose ‘equally space’. Here is the caveat for this long winded solution, if you update the patterned component and then open the part with the component in it, the part will not update properly unless BOTH parts are open at the same time….
So all this brings me to ask, SolidWorks why can you not have a curve driven pattern in a assembly?
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dave spencer
Good ways to do this. I was just hoping there was some really simple way to do it. Like “pattern object” 15 times to “offset from face”. Is there a wish list for SW functionality.
thanks
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admin
There are enhancement requests at the SolidWorks website. Although many of us feel it is throwing suggestions down a hole. I and another guy will have http://DearSolidWorks.com up and going in the next couple of weeks for just this sort of thing
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RodUding
I concur with your comment Ben from 10:45 2008/11/23. Why can’t I drive a pattern with a curve in an assembly. It would save me a lot of time when I do not have a pattern on a part in the assembly.
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admin
Just found this at SW Geeks
http://www.swgeeks.com/forum/topics/2064154:Topic:936Might do what you need it to
Quote
“sometimes it’s needed to divide sketch curves(lines,arcs,splines,etc) or edges into equal portions. this can be accomplished using reference point command (insert->reference geometry->point) and specifying number of points to be inserted (evenly distribute option)”
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Matt, 
Chris Serran, and 
behnt are discussing. 
CBL 2:08 pm on May 21, 2010 Permalink
Why not drive both A & B via a master sketch at the top level? Or (my preference) a master sketch within a ‘dummy’ part at the top level.
Ben 10:06 am on May 22, 2010 Permalink
Normally I would but I have a cavity feature that will not work with that. Thanks though
afee451 6:02 am on May 24, 2010 Permalink
For these situations I use a multi-body part to drive dimensions between parts instead of an assembly. depending on the specifics, you may not need the assembly at all.