Flexible U-Joint type constraint that allows rotation

[jim]

In my line of work we use a lot of drivelines to transfer power from one place to another.

These assemblies are very difficult to create because of all the constraints required to make an assembly.

Inventor just does not like to do it.

Typically the input to output shafts vary up to 5 degrees.  Any more and the u-joints don’t like it.

If Autodesk really wanted to challenge the programmers the could create some sort of u-joint constraint.

The ultimate challenge would be to make the shafts rotate without flying apart of just freezing up.

[ambrose]

Hi @Anonymous, could you explain what problems you are having a little more? I'm not really clear on how your proposal would work.

Constraints certainly can get a bit fiddly with things like this! But making a single UJ assembly can be as simple as two insert constraints. You could also add some angle constraints with minimum and maximum value ranges to limit things to the acceptable range of motion, that might help inventor to solve your assembly correctly. Do you use sub-assemblies much? Are you aware that you can mark a sub-assembly as "flexible" and it will be able to able to articulate within the parent assembly, so potentially you only have to assemble the UJ once and can reuse it. Sorry if I'm telling you stuff you already know!

[jim]

Someone suggested I use the joint constraint. That works good for what I am doing. In 10 years I had never used it. Me bad.
I may remove my post.