Has anybody done a chain in Solidworks?

Question

Has anybody done a chain in Solidworks?For example: make one drive sprocket and idler sprocket and thedriven sprocket. make the chain and create the mates between the links (yesit took a long time).I can create the sprockets from Toolbox , create the path of the chain ,then create a surface that the chain will be tangent to , then startcreating tangentmates I can get only 4 mates done when the assembly becomes over defined.(I mate a tangent mate between the link roller and the surface path)Can anybody shed some light on this .... please

matt · Accepted Answer

The tangent mate is sometimes a bit quirky, tough to solve. Why don't you just use a sketch for the path of the centerlines of the rollers and mate the center points to the sketch. Much simpler for SW to solve.

solid steve · Answer

Hi JFI model chains as a part. Sketch the centre line, model a link then usea curve pattern to attach to centre line, you have to make the lengthof the centre line divisable by the pitch obviously. I have examples ifyou like.steveJF wrote:

Wayne Tiffany · Answer

Keep in mind that a lot of the time a full complete chain is not necessary and unnecessarily taxes the system. If you can accept it, put a sketch around the sprockets and then sweep the chain profile. That way it looks like it's going real fast!! Seriously, though, it shows a representation of the envelope that the chain occupies in its travels around the sprockets.

WT

Kvick · Answer

I would like to have one... once had some time to play with chains, but tried the assembly approach...arto (dot) kvick (at) gmail (dot) com     works OK...

pete · Answer

Great idea Wayne!I made each chain part, then a sub-assembly, then I made it flexible, then a main assembly.It took forever to re-build, and when I moved it, the parts flew all over the place!, lolYour idea seems a lot easier.:-)

Has anybody done a chain in Solidworks?

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