efficient way to model and/or assemble roller chain

Forgive me if this has been asked before (I did check google):

I am looking to assemble a good length of #40 chain. 78" between sprocket centers. It rides inside a plastic chain guide with lugs attached through its rivets every 5 inches. I know I can just assemble it, but it would be locked in position? what's the best way to keep the assembly flexible so maybe I could animate it? Or is this asking too much? I suppose I could hide a large portion on the details....

Does anyone have some comments?

Thanks

-- Jeff Design Engineer

Reply to
Snoopy
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I have attempted something like this. It will likely bring SW to its knees computationaly. It you assembled individual pieces it could be flexible. It you used subassemblies you would have to set up a configuration for each instance and this is very inefficient. The mates for going around the sprockets would be a real trick. Perhaps you could mate the rollers to an envelope part and make the envelope invisible in order to fake the sprocket engagement.

There are some k> Forgive me if this has been asked before (I did check google):

Reply to
kellnerp

I've also tried this, with rather mixed results. I was never able to show motion (too much computational time), and I found that the most efficient way to deal was to make the entire chain one Part with Feature Patterns (both linear and circular) and with Mirrored Features. You can also make Component Patterns for a subassembly. Regardless of how you do it, it's mostly for show, unless you're trying to figure out sprocket tooth position (relative rotational position). I also suggest creating a top level configuration in which the chain is suppressed entirely to speed up work on the rest of the assembly.

'Spork'

kellnerp wrote:

Reply to
Sporkman

What we usually do with chains is to model the links on the ends and then use a sketch for the length in between. That way you have correct looking connections, but not the immense overhead of modeling the whole chain.

If you needed the positioning side of it, use an equation driven sketch to evaluate.

WT

Reply to
Wayne Tiffany

You can now do a 'curve driven' pattern in a part - therefore you can create a multi-body part and do an equal space pattern around a spline that you have created to represent the path (this can be made up from lines and arcs then use the 'fit spline' function.

Merry :-)

Reply to
Merry Owen

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