How to make a custom chain?

How to make a custom chain?

260717G4TH5
Community Visitor Community Visitor
157 Views
12 Replies
Message 1 of 13

How to make a custom chain?

260717G4TH5
Community Visitor
Community Visitor

I've been trying to model a chain for my vex robot for years now, and every time I've just left it out. Is there a way to either add a chain link to the roller chain list, or to add relative rotation to allow me to model them with an associative pattern.

260717G4TH5_0-1758732015287.png

I've tried using an associative pattern (it's a circle just as a proof of concept) but they all maintain the same rotation, is there any way to do some kind of relative rotation with a pattern in an assembly?

0 Likes
158 Views
12 Replies
Replies (12)
Message 2 of 13

kacper.suchomski
Mentor
Mentor

Hi

The direction of the associative pattern follows the source pattern.

Did you give direction to the elements in the base pattern, or did you allow them to maintain a fixed orientation?


Kacper Suchomski

EESignature


YouTube - Inventor tutorials | LinkedIn | Instagram

Did you find this post helpful? Feel free to Like this post.
Did your question get successfully answered? Then click on the ACCEPT SOLUTION button.


0 Likes
Message 3 of 13

260717G4TH5
Community Visitor
Community Visitor

I just used the insert constraint to attach the chain lick to the base element of that pattern. You’re saying that if I used a a second constraint to a sequential element in the pattern it would maintain a relative orientation?

0 Likes
Message 4 of 13

kacper.suchomski
Mentor
Mentor

@260717G4TH5 wrote:

I just used the insert constraint to attach the chain lick to the base element of that pattern. You’re saying that if I used a a second constraint to a sequential element in the pattern it would maintain a relative orientation?


I didn't mention anything about constraints.

I asked if you had defined the direction of the base pattern elements.


Kacper Suchomski

EESignature


YouTube - Inventor tutorials | LinkedIn | Instagram

Did you find this post helpful? Feel free to Like this post.
Did your question get successfully answered? Then click on the ACCEPT SOLUTION button.


0 Likes
Message 5 of 13

260717G4TH5
Community Visitor
Community Visitor

I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean about instructions, sorry. Could you please elaborate?

0 Likes
Message 6 of 13

kacper.suchomski
Mentor
Mentor

@260717G4TH5 wrote:

I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean about instructions, sorry. Could you please elaborate?


How did you create the cell pattern?


Kacper Suchomski

EESignature


YouTube - Inventor tutorials | LinkedIn | Instagram

Did you find this post helpful? Feel free to Like this post.
Did your question get successfully answered? Then click on the ACCEPT SOLUTION button.


0 Likes
Message 7 of 13

260717G4TH5
Community Visitor
Community Visitor

I made the pattern by making a rectangular pattern of a small cylinder made from an extrusion of a circle, along the length of a circle, all in the part level. Then in an assembly, i brought in my chain link and constrained it with an insert on to one of the cylinders in the pattern. Finally, i used an associative pattern on the rectangular pattern and inserted chain link to creat the above chain.

0 Likes
Message 8 of 13

kacper.suchomski
Mentor
Mentor

@260717G4TH5 wrote:

I made the pattern by making a rectangular pattern of a small cylinder made from an extrusion of a circle, along the length of a circle, all in the part level.


Did you define the orientation of the pattern elements according to the direction, or did you keep the orientation of the elements in the pattern constant?


Kacper Suchomski

EESignature


YouTube - Inventor tutorials | LinkedIn | Instagram

Did you find this post helpful? Feel free to Like this post.
Did your question get successfully answered? Then click on the ACCEPT SOLUTION button.


0 Likes
Message 9 of 13

260717G4TH5
Community Visitor
Community Visitor

I did not define orientation, this may sound stupid, but how do I define orientation?

0 Likes
Message 10 of 13

kacper.suchomski
Mentor
Mentor

@260717G4TH5 wrote:

how do I define orientation?


In the pattern dialog box there is an item called Direction.


Kacper Suchomski

EESignature


YouTube - Inventor tutorials | LinkedIn | Instagram

Did you find this post helpful? Feel free to Like this post.
Did your question get successfully answered? Then click on the ACCEPT SOLUTION button.


0 Likes
Message 11 of 13

260717G4TH5
Community Visitor
Community Visitor

They only options i see are feature and pattern selection.

0 Likes
Message 12 of 13

kacper.suchomski
Mentor
Mentor

@260717G4TH5 wrote:

They only options i see are feature and pattern selection.


No one knows what you see until you show it.


Kacper Suchomski

EESignature


YouTube - Inventor tutorials | LinkedIn | Instagram

Did you find this post helpful? Feel free to Like this post.
Did your question get successfully answered? Then click on the ACCEPT SOLUTION button.


0 Likes
Message 13 of 13

260717G4TH5
Community Visitor
Community Visitor

Sorry I’m not at my of rn, I’ll get back to you when I am

0 Likes