Belts in Inventor
 

We need to make a belt that would be used like a chain. We need it to bend around cylinder shaped parts. Any way to make this sort of a piece?

Re: Belts in Inventor
 

You'd probably be best to make the belt as one solid piece, and edit it as needed. It won't be able to turn, though.

To constrain it around cylinder shaped parts, you can mate the axes or use the Insert constraint, whichever best suits your design.

Re: Belts in Inventor
 

I would use the Sweep command, but you are going to have to figure out every bend in the belt before you can make it right.

The help menu should be able to help you if you do not know how to use it.

Re: Belts in Inventor
 

I've never used it, but Inventor 10 does have a belt generator. It's one of the "design accelerator" tools.

Re: Belts in Inventor
 

Thanks for all the input, we'll probably make the belt as one piece that won't be able to move. That's all we really need though. Our next meeting is on Wednesday, I'll post how we did it then.

Re: Belts in Inventor
 

you are correct inventor 10 does have the ability to generate belts. Design accelerator is sweet. too bad you can't take things made in I10 and go into an older version. Otherwise, I'de create a belt for you, there are other ways, like sweep, it just takes longer.

Re: Belts in Inventor
 

Well we do use inventor 10. Maybe this is easier than I thought, it probably didn't require a post.

Re: Belts in Inventor
 

Yea i made an engine once and flirted with the design accelarator in making one. they make it pretty easy, initially i had trouble scaling it to my drawing, but they made it decently user friendly.

As opposed to the welding features. egh. i cant figure out those things for the life of me, despite how cool they look. I've even considered taking up welding over the summer to figure it out.