Train Project

[Anonymous]

Hey guys! Sorry if I'm posting this to the wrong forum, but I just wanted to share a cool little project that me and my class have been working on. It is a train made by/derived from the PLTW version. As a small independent project of mine, I decided to add on to it a little bit, so I added a circular/rectangular track with a tunnel that the train would have to go through. The only problem I am having is the animation to get it to go around the track. Since the wheels don't have its own solid plane, I can't insert it into the track, thus when I animate it with drive constraints it will only go foward. If anybody would help me with this I would be much obliged. I will attach photos of it. Thanks :).

[mflayler2]

First thing you need to fix is the corner track pieces... how would a train go around that sharp corner.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure how far back these messages are stored but this project and the solution for drivingthe train around the track have been discussed in some detail. As I recall, the animate it going around the track is an extra credit sort of task intended to challenge you to come up with how to do it in Inventor. It isn't obvious.

HINT: It involves creating a surface (which will ultimately not be displayed) to which a constraint is applied. A rotate constraint can then drive the train 360 degrees "around" whatever track you have defined.

HINT: Think of a mechanism/linkage radiating from a central point of rotation. Create that, drive that and hide it when you create the animation.