How to lock this box correctly using joints?

[tiktuk]

Hi folks!

So I have modeled this simple mockup of an RFID lock I want to use in a box I'm building. I want to place it correctly in my model so I can make screw holes for the correct placement when I cnc mill it.

My question is how I join the buckle (the small part, not sure if it's correct terminology) with the lid and the lock body (the large part) with the side of the box while keeping their alignment the same when the lid is in the closed position.

If I make the two parts a rigid group I can place them correctly but then I can't join them so they move correctly when the lid is opening, that is my dilemma.

Know what I mean? It's a bit difficult to explain. I have attached example files.

[davebYYPCU]

Joint the box with its lock mechanism section as rigid, during the placement of this joint, top of the Lock block is 11 mm below the lid.

Temporary join or constrain the pin in it's hole, flush with the lid.

Measure the corner of the pin plate to the box corner.  Use these values next.

Cancel the temporary pin joint. and then join the pin plate to the lid, offset from the corner with the values you measured.

Might help…..

[tiktuk]

Thanks Dave!

That was basically what I planned to do as my last resort. But that means hard coding the values.

So I guess there is no parametric way of doing it?

[davebYYPCU]

Joints will accept parametric offset values, but Box doesn't.

so considering you didn't say where the main lock body is going to be, you will need some measurements to put into a parameter.

I was going to suggest you can do this in sketches, but you don't fully define them - parameter changes will fail to deliver expected results, if not fully defined.

Might help...

[g-andresen]

Hi,

might help

You need to decide whether the lock should be centered on the front or on the lid.

günther

I deleted the file because:
1. In the screencast, which I put together in a hurry, I had overlooked the fact that there were several (unnecessary) joint origins.
All necessary joints can be created directly without origins.
2. At the end, there are extrusions that mistakenly also included the locking unit.

[tiktuk]

Oh yeah, the reason why those sketches are not fully constrained is just that I am waiting for the part to arrive so I can measure it and specify the right dimensions 🙂 .

And the box is just an example, the box I am actually designing is much more complicated and drawn with sketches.

In this example I would just have the lock in the top center of the side in the screenshot.

[davebYYPCU]

That’s fair.  I think Gunther put the pin in the centre of the box face.  The unit main block holes are therefore offset.

Very easy to use end points in the component sketches, as snap points for Joints.  Just a note, as built joints don’t handle parameter changes well either.

Might help….

[tiktuk]

Thanks for taking the time to make the video, @g-andresen ! I had not thought about deriving the values in that way, that's pretty clever. In the end both parts of the lock are moving with the lid though, which is one of the things I was trying to avoid. Because otherwise a rigid group and a joint origin in the lock file, and a simple joining with the box could accomplish the same thing, without making the sketches and formulas.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

---

@tiktuk  schrieb:

.... In the end both parts of the lock are moving with the lid though, which is one of the things I was trying to avoid. 

---

This is simply used to determine the drilling positions.

günther

[tiktuk]

Yes, but I'm trying to also have the parts end up being joined to lid/side respectively, so they move correctly 🙂 .

[tiktuk · Accepted solution]

Thanks to inspiration from your different ideas I found a simple way that satisfies my constraints: Adding sketches with the snap point to each component and joining with rigid joints using those, offsetting the width of the side using a parameter. Very simple and parametric! Thanks a lot for the help, @davebYYPCU and @g-andresen 😄 !