Help modeling caster

[aoverhage]

I am truing to model these casters and am having trouble making the yoke(the part that connects the top plate and the wheel). I can do it just as a folded u shape, but am having trouble getting the curved part right. I have tried both a normal part and a sheet matal part, but cant seem to get it in either format. 

Here is a link to a picture of the caster:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-in-Swivel-Non-Marking-Rubber-Caster-4030345EB/203672416

any help would be appreciated!

[TheCADWhisperer]

Attach your *.ipt attempt here.

[aoverhage]

I got more or less the same thing as you, but i cant get the curve on the bottom of the cylindrical part toward the axle, but that is not critical. how did you get the round bumpout on the top?

Thanks!

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

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@aoverhage wrote:

I got more or less the same thing as you,....

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OK!  But I must confess that I don't really understand the logic of your modeling technique and there are some dimensions missing?

I like to make use of logical symmetry about the origin as this helps when it comes time for assembly.

In the attached design I assumed that the inside dimensions for the bearings, wheel and wheel axle pin are the critical datums.

Are you familiar with reverse-engineering Inventor sketch/feature history tree?

I like to use nice simple sketches - similar to what we did on the drawing board in the last century (see the sketches file).

In the attached features file, find the red End of Part marker and drag it down the feature tree step-by-step to see how I constructed the features in my example.  (I just looked at a physical castor and realized that I made a mistake in my model, but you get the idea.)

[aoverhage]

Thanks a bunch. I knew my way of doing it was odd, but i couldn't think of how else to do it. After seeing your's i understand what you are saying. Thanks for the feedback and help it is greatly appreciated!

[TheCADWhisperer]

Now if I could just spell.....