topic Re: PATH ARRAYS in Inventor Forum

PATH ARRAYS

Luke_Y.AGII — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 01:38:23 GMT

Ive been searching and playing with rectangular pattern for more than a couple hours and cant figure this out. I have a belt (2 belts actually, both are identical) and the path is roughly boat shaped. I have an assembly (a rod that runs through a pipe with a collar lock and bearing at each end, the rod attaches to a belt at each end) that attaches to the belt at each end of the rod (picture tank treads with the treads bein the assembly and each edge being a belt)

https://irobotics.illinois.edu/w/images/5/52/TANKTREAD_GUIDE.pdf

it is similar to this project linked, and i was using it as a tutorial, but when i get to item 8 on page 16, it says to create a point pattern. I have tried using the pattern tool in "assemble," "3D model," and even tried in "Sketch" but I cannot create a pattern using a workpoint, a point, or the assembly that I'm trying to get as an end result. Im open to help 🙂

Re: PATH ARRAYS

SharkDesign — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 05:25:00 GMT

You do this in 3d model. You must also create the point and the path in 3d model.

The tutorial shows it as edit in place, but you can open that part on it's own if it makes it easier.

This method of making a pattern can be a bit dodgy so you must do it in the order shown in the steps.

Re: PATH ARRAYS

JDMather — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 10:38:31 GMT

Attach your file(s) here if you can’t figure it out.

Re: PATH ARRAYS

johnsonshiue — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 18:51:18 GMT

Hi! The process has not changed. Maybe there is one step omitted. It is hard to tell without seeing the files. Please share your attempt there.

Many thanks!

Re: PATH ARRAYS

Luke_Y.AGII — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 19:42:31 GMT

I cant share the actual file for proprietary reasons, but Ive set up a similar idea with the attatched. How can I copy the rodring assembly along the belt path at, let's say, 1" o.c. ? if theres already a tutorial out there, can you point me to it? Ive looked, but not been able to find anything relevant to my problem.

Re: PATH ARRAYS

JDMather — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 19:54:18 GMT

See Attached.

http://autode.sk/1LbSUxy

Re: PATH ARRAYS

Luke_Y.AGII — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 20:07:19 GMT

When I right click on the assembly, and choose componenent => pattern, i dont see the option to chose the curve of the belt, just rectangular or circular, and feature pattern select. In feature pattern select, I can't select anything, nor can I type in anything. what am I missing? i aso have a component pattern failure warning when I open up your example.

Re: PATH ARRAYS

JDMather — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 22:02:22 GMT

@Luke_Y.AGII wrote:

I have a component pattern failure warning when I open up your example.

I suspect that your computer is finding one of the original files.

Extract this zip.

Make the Whisper - Conveyor.ipj your active Project and then open conveyor.iam.

Do you still get an error?

Oops, I see the problem - back in a minute.

OK, unzip the new Attachment and set the active project as described above.

Re: PATH ARRAYS

JDMather — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 22:08:22 GMT

@Luke_Y.AGII wrote:

When I right click on the assembly, and choose componenent => pattern, i dont see the option to chose the curve of the belt, ...

Go back and watch the video again.

You must have a pattern of Workpoints (feature) at the part level in the belt.

Re: PATH ARRAYS

JDMather — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 22:10:13 GMT

Re: PATH ARRAYS

Luke_Y.AGII — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 22:30:44 GMT

now all of the sudden i have extreme mouse lag. even after I closed everything and rebooted, checked for drivers, changed the battery...

in regards to the project, i finally was able to see what you did and i am trying to replicate it... will update once I get this mouse problem fixed...

Re: PATH ARRAYS

Luke_Y.AGII — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 00:47:01 GMT

Thank you so much for the help. the main errors I was making was trying to set up the pattern in the assembly vs the part and not selecting the Modeling option at the top the top of the browser. I was able to complete the arrays in both the example and in my actual project so many thanks to you!

Re: PATH ARRAYS

Luke_Y.AGII — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 20:45:42 GMT

Just an addendum: if you want your component (assembly/part) to rotate around the path (instead of staying static), be sure that when you are creating the feature pattern, that you expand the options and under "Direction 2," choose the "Direction 1" option

If you forget, you can fix it by editing the feature.