Modeling The Rack.
 

This is going to be next to impossible to CAD. I could see doing the frame and spider legs, even the light and decaling the numbers and whatnot on, but with that many chains? Forget it.
Spoonfeeds: How are you guys going to do this?

Re: The Rack.
 

We're going to CAD each and every link! To create the best assembly ever!

Re: The Rack.
 

Try using the CAD files they posted for field construction, it might not be inventor but it's a great startup point.

Re: The Rack.
 

For the chains, you could just make cylinders and texture them with a repeating image.

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

My Advice? Print the field drawings out because it's virtually impossible to alt-tab through all those random pages. Oh and save the chains for last.

Good luck making this thing! The race is on to see who can CAD up a full model first.

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

In a slightly connected idea, has anybody seen a bill of materials for the rack, more specifically, the low-cost one? I realize I could just add up all the like parts and do it like that, but knowing me I'd probably make a mistake somewhere.

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

Frame generator in Inventor 11 FTW! I'm already half way done... When I finish I'll post the models.

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

Hi folks,

Autodesk looks forward to seeing how you choose to represent the chains. Don't forget about Flexible assemblies.

If you beat me to finishing a model, we'd be happy to post the data along with the Kit of Parts (and offer recognition).

Best of luck to all the teams!

-Pete
Autodesk Inventor Award coordinator

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

this sounds like a competition now

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

Done.

Do you really need more then that?

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

Just wondering... But why do you even need to model the field? Is it going be used in an animation?

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

Here's why I would model the field, even though it's a pain.
1. Strategy. A real field will let you play with various game scenarios, among other things.
2. Aesthetics. Screenshots of the robot accomplishing real tasks on the inventor field looks very good in your award submission. Also, past Cybersonics submissions have had the robot animated and accomplishing the tasks in Inventor.

Re: The Rack.
 

I did my best with the inventor mock-up...I didn't put on the number decals or make any of the innertubes, but the rest of it is there. Only problem is that the alliance wall is completely solid. Program wouldn't let me make the wall half glass, half non-transparent. I can only include a pic, because the inventor file is too big. To see the actual inventor file, you can visit my team's website. It should be up in a couple of days. The url is www.precisionguesswork.com

Re: The Rack.
 

That's a rather impressive rack. Did you just extrude a cylinder in the middle and build off that one?

Re: Modeling The Rack.
 

What i am going to do it make two links one on the XZ plane and one on the YZ plane. Then in assembly i will join the two links. Then do a pattern compont to then length of chain i need. I think its pretty simple