Add a Solid to the Tool-Part.
We use the Pattern tool to make copies of Solid elements.
We will add the Solid element to the 'Tool-Part'. The 'Tool-Part' is one of the two Parts 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
Add a Sketch-Loop, Profile and Extrusion, and Holes
|
We will add a sketch-loop to Part 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 dimension The distance changes: •from 100mm when the Part •to a minimum of 93.55mm when Part Thus, we must add a short 'slot' to the Part. |
|
The images shows the sketch for the tool-holder. There is a short slot
|
|
Now the shape of the Solid Extrusion is complete: There is: •one Profile •three holes: othe hole for the Pin othe hole for the Slot othe hole for the Tool-holder |
|
Here, I have added: •a Profile and Extrusion •a Hole through the Tool-holder You must pass a hole through each extrusion, unlike more sophisticated CAD. |
Import a Solid from CAD
Parts from SolidWorks® can have much more design detail. To do this: 1.Import an Assembly onto one CAD-Line. or 1.Use the Part-Editor to add more CAD-Lines to one Part 2.Import different CAD files on to each CAD-Line. |
|
|
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-Line 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 > SOLIDWORKS tab, to import the part from SOLIDWORKS. |
|
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 center 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 |
