Chain

[JD Mather]

Originally Posted by pearldrumzach

JD - I created a chain, with the correct number of links. ...Is there any way I can make the chain "work"

Do not create all of the links.
You need only one roller link and one pin link (depending on the type of chain used - I haven't looked at the supplied).

Create an ipt with the path (actually I think the DAcc does this for you).
Create one workpoint on the path.
Use the Curve Driven Pattern tool (missed named - Rectangular Pattern) to pattern the workpoint at the correct pitch around the path.
(see http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2006/MA13-3%20Mather.pdf - not exactly the same thing so don't get confused, but it should get you going)

Then in the assembly place the one (or two) links as needed and constrain to the points. Then use Pattern Component using the point pattern to drive the palcement of the rest of the links around the path.

To actually animate the movement of a chain is more difficult than I can explain here.

[Team1710]

Originally Posted by JD Mather

Do not create all of the links.
You need only one roller link and one pin link (depending on the type of chain used - I haven't looked at the supplied).

Create an ipt with the path (actually I think the DAcc does this for you).
Create one workpoint on the path.
Use the Curve Driven Pattern tool (missed named - Rectangular Pattern) to pattern the workpoint at the correct pitch around the path.
(see http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2006/MA13-3%20Mather.pdf - not exactly the same thing so don't get confused, but it should get you going)

Then in the assembly place the one (or two) links as needed and constrain to the points. Then use Pattern Component using the point pattern to drive the palcement of the rest of the links around the path.

To actually animate the movement of a chain is more difficult than I can explain here.

This method is amazing! We're definately going to use this. Thanks a bunch!

[lynca]

Originally Posted by lynca

The roller chain generator default in Inventor has a few quirks.
I suggest using one of the 3rd party auto chain generator if you are having trouble.

http://www.sdotson.com/viewparts.php...20transmission
(check out the link with rollerchain.zip)
Let me know if you have trouble getting it to work

Above is another option that looks better as a chain than the Roller Chain Generator.

[pearldrumzach]

Originally Posted by JD Mather

Do not create all of the links.

Create an ipt with the path (actually I think the DAcc does this for you).
Create one workpoint on the path.
Use the Curve Driven Pattern tool (missed named - Rectangular Pattern) to pattern the workpoint at the correct pitch around the path.
(see http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/AU2006/MA13-3%20Mather.pdf - not exactly the same thing so don't get confused, but it should get you going)

Then in the assembly place the one (or two) links as needed and constrain to the points. Then use Pattern Component using the point pattern to drive the palcement of the rest of the links around the path.

I tried this; I created the .ipt with the path, and made a workpoint. However, when I tried to array the point, it said that you are unable to array work features (I've been trying to work on chain at school and not cut into my time at the robotics shop experimenting with it, and we only have 2008 on our school computers; is that part of my problem with arraying?). Thanks for all the help.

Originally Posted by lynca

The roller chain generator default in Inventor has a few quirks.
I suggest using one of thee 3rd party auto chain generator if you are having trouble.

http://www.sdotson.com/viewparts.php...20transmission
(check out the link with rollerchain.zip)
Let me know if you have trouble getting it to work

I've got everything set correctly in the Excel spreadsheet, and I can see the links when I mouse over them in the browser, but how do I make the chain visible?

Thanks for the help guys.

-Zach

[JD Mather]

Originally Posted by pearldrumzach

when I tried to array the point, it said that you are unable to array work features...
-Zach

Are you doing Rectangular Pattern in ipt? Zip and attach what you have so far.

[Team1710]

Sorry but I need to bump this. The over all look of the chain generator is very cheesey. Plus the smallest version of chain in the generator is ANSI 40 but our team uses ANSI 35. Has anyone found a way to make the chain look better and/or used ANSI 35 in the generator?