Add a Solid to the Tool-Part.

We add a Solid to a Part. We can then use the Pattern tool to make copies of the Solid..

We will add the Solid to the 'Tool-Part' that is one Part in the RPR Dyad. We renamed in Step 15.4 one of the Parts in the RPR dyad to 'Tool-Part'.

There are two methods to add a Solid to a Part. You can do the two methods to each Part.

•Use the Part-Editor to add a sketch-loop to give the shape of a Tool, then add a Profile/Extrusion element that becomes the Solid.
•Edit a CAD-Line to import a part or assembly document from SOLIDWORKS®.

You can also:

•Import a DXF File; then convert DXF Lines or Circles to MechDesigner sketch-elements and sketch-loop; and a Profile/Extrusion to the sketch-loop.
•Edit a CAD-Line to import an STL file from other CAD.

Use the two methods to add Solids to a Part

tog_minus        Add a Sketch-Loop, Profile and Extrusion, and Holes

QST15-5-1

We will add a sketch-loop to Part1s-red in the RPR dyad that we joined to the Slider-Set 1.

The sketch-loop will become the 'Tool'. In this case, the tool is a 'tool-holder'.

The distance between the two Pin-Joints in the Dyad, identified by dimension3s, changes as the Slider-Sets move around the arcs at each end of the Belt.

The distance changes:

•from 100mm when the Part1s-red is along the straight of the Belt
•to a minimum of 93.55mm when Part1s-red moves along the arc/pulley of the Belt.

Thus, we must add a short 'slot' to the Part.

QST15-5-2

The images shows the sketch for the tool-holder.

There is a short slot1s-red  - [not easy to see in the sketch].

 

QST15-5-3

Now the shape of the Solid Extrusion is complete:

There is:

•one Profile
•three holes:
othe hole for the Pin 1s-red
othe hole for the Slot 2s
othe hole for the Tool-holder 3s

QST15-5-4

Here, I have added:

•a Profile and Extrusion1s-red to give the shape of the tool-holder
•a Hole through the Tool-holder

You must pass a hole through each extrusion, unlike more sophisticated CAD.

tog_minus        Import a Solid from CAD

Parts from SolidWorks® can have much more design detail.

You can also import Assemblies or many Parts. Use a different CAD-Line for each Part or Assembly. You can add new CAD-Lines to the same Part.

QST15-5-5
1.Open SOLIDWORKS; and design a chain link

- or -

1.Open SOLIDWORKS, Open Link100 from the 'Examples' folder in your account.
2.Save the SOLIDWORKS Part, if necessary
3.In MechDesigner, edit the CAD-Link of the Part that is in the Dyad, attached with a Pin-Joint to the Y-Slider of Slider-Set 1.
4.Use the CAD-Line dialog-box, Solids tab, to import the Part from SOLIDWORKS.

QST15-5-6

We can also add a Sprocket and a Pin to drive the links along the Path.

1.Add a Rotating Part (Crank) at both ends of the Path, at the centre of the Arcs.
2.Edit the CAD-Lines in the Rotating Parts, to import the Sprockets from SOLIDWORKS with the CAD-Line dialog-box
3.Import a Drive-Pin. You can add a new CAD-Line, if necessary.

The image shows the three Parts on three different CAD-Lines

•The Chain-Link and Tool-holder
•The Sprocket
•The Pin

Tutorial and Reference Help Files for MechDesigner and MotionDesigner 13.2 + © Machine, Mechanism, Motion and Cam Design Software by PSMotion Ltd