Constraining angles of a universal joint

[Leo.Aerts]

ELBE 0.109.400 universal joint. I tried to use their step file to limit the maximum working angle in x and Y.
I was able to align the installation height between the flanges myself, being 84 mm. Thus, the composition is nicely ready to integrate in an assembling.
What I could not realise is the constraining of the maximum Beta 20 degrees limit on x and y axis. I try to send what I think is necessary to get an image.
Could anybody help or perhaps put me on the right track, how I should approach this?

[SBix26]

Zip all the component files along with the assembly file and attach it here.  An assembly file without components is useless.

What version of Inventor are you using?

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Sam B
Inventor Pro 2022.0.1 | Windows 10 Home 20H2
LinkedIn

[Leo.Aerts]

Thanks for fast reply. 

I try to send what is necesary, but see now that limit is 3 items. I send the other separately.

[Leo.Aerts]

Sorry for the separate files, but I am older and not used to handle zip files.

[Leo.Aerts]

The last two.

Thanks for your understanding.

[Leo.Aerts]

forgotten, my work version is Inventor 2020

[JDMather · Accepted solution]

You needed Angle Constraint Limits to motion.

Download the Attached *.zip file.

Right click on the file and select Extract All.

Drill in and open the assembly.  

Drag the components.

When you place as a sub-assembly within the main assembly, right click on the sub and set to Flexible.

[Leo.Aerts]

Thanks a lot, Whisper

But I think, only one of the two parts is swivelling. I have to study this matter more profoundly, but think we are one step further.

[JDMather]

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@Leo.Aerts wrote:

But I think, only one of the two parts is swiveling. 

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I can move either one.

Does it work as Flexible in your main assembly?

[Leo.Aerts]

The cross coupling is used vertically as a central support for a swivel frame. The swiveling motion can be in any direction.
Since the cross coupling also absorbs longitudinal shocks, four dampers are also mounted vertically.
The movement originates from two stepper motors with ballscrew jacks.

Max deflexion angle from the coupling is 20 degrees in all directions. 

The limits which I need in X and Y axis should be max only around 8 degrees.

Hope this information helps?

[JDMather]

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@Leo.Aerts wrote:

Hope this information helps?

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Helps with what?

Did you get it working in your main assembly? Yes? No?

[Leo.Aerts]

no, it does not

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Leo.Aerts wrote:

no, it does not

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In that case, you should zip and Attach your entire assembly here for diagnosis.

[Leo.Aerts]

The new assembly has to be build around this coupling. So I need first the coupling to be constrained with max deflections in x and y axis, before I can proceed. I cannot send an assembly that doesn't exist yet.

I noticed that one of the forks was grounded, so I unground to be able to constrain both. I myself am not able to do this, after tens of trials.

[Leo.Aerts]

A friend suggested to make all planes visible from the 3 parts. Then constrain. 

Fair Enough, I use 0.191986 rad, which should give me a deflexion angle of about 11 degrees, which is what I need. 

However the constraining failed. I need also the flanges in motion, thus aligned in rest position, and deflected at 0.191986 rad.

Please, can you try it this way, maybe with your experience, you succeed. 

Thanks a lot for your patience.

[Leo.Aerts]

I started to make a complete new assembling. From a grounded support through the first fork, until the cross axis in the center. Till now everything seems to work well in the angle and drive constraining. 

Supposing I can add now the second fork, constrain it with the same angles and drive limits.

I hope you can approve now. 

Probably the biggest challenge will be, to drive the two forks together. 

Sorry for the confusing trials before. 

Your opinions are more than welcome.