Roller chain between two fixed points

[RockyBrown4134]

Is there a way to rout ANSI roller chain between two points? I know of / found ways to do a continuous loop, but not between to points.

I have three sprockets, two forms a bridge across horizontal, while the third travels vertically. One end point is permanently fixed, and the second end point is fixed to a component that travels vertically, opposite of the third sprocket. Please see attached.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Using Inventor 2012  64 Bit (Premium Design Suite) SP2

[JDMather]

Do you want modeled chain links or will a cosmetic representation be good enough?

Are you expecting this to move like real world or is static represention good enough?

[RockyBrown4134]

Just thinking.......

1) Would prefer modeled chain, but cosmetic representation would be good enough.

2) I was not expecting this to move as in a real world state. Maybe the vertical lengths longer - shorter as needed when position reps or  Level of Detail changes. Since output would be a still representation, static representation would be good enough. Something a little more than a solid black line.

[JDMather]

The Design Acclerator does not create chain links anyhow.

For cosmetic representation Sweep along path and then add the cosmetic texture (examples of this have been posted in the past.

This is not too terrible difficult to animate if needed.

For modeled links create a Roller Link and a Pin Link and then a curve driven pattern.

To animate this would be considerably more difficult.

What size chain?

[RockyBrown4134]

ANSI 80 and ANSI 100 are the two we use the most.

[Ray_Feiler]

We use the one posted here when we need it to look like a real chain.

http://www.cbliss.com/inventor/Parts.htm

Scroll half way down to find it.

[RockyBrown4134]

I've used this one before (Inventor 10, 11, 2008 days). Works great when you have a simple loop.

[RockyBrown4134]

I'll give these two opions a try when I get another chance to play around.