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29 Replies Latest reply on Jun 30, 2016 12:58 PM by Timothy Taby

Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly

Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 28, 2016 1:45 PM

Hello everyone,

I've just built a Cardan Joint, and I have to add an extension to the rotating pin at the bottom. The thing is that the pin at the bottom (inside red circle) is a cylinder, and thus can't grab the extension (marked with a red X). Therefore I would like to add a small box (inside blue circle) at the end of the pin, so it can fit into and grab the extension, and make the whole Joint rotate.

But how do I add this inside the assembly? I tried sketching it onto the cylinder from the bottom and then make an extruded boss/base, but the whole joint didn't rotate. Any simple way to do this?

Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly

Deepak Gupta Jun 28, 2016 3:01 PM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)

You need to edit the part in the assembly and then add that square boss or cut. Finally you need to make them properly withe part on the bottom.
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Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly

Peter Brinkhuis Jun 28, 2016 3:11 PM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)

You can make any two parts move together by adding a mate between them. I'm sure you've done that for the other components as well. Adding a coincident mate between the top plane of pin and the top plane of the extension will keep those planes coincident. You might need other planes, but I hope the idea is clear. If you have trouble understanding this, I suggest you watch a basic video on mates:
SOLIDWORKS Quick Tip - Introduction to Mates - YouTube

You don't need to make a square peg and hole for it to work, you could also mate two parts that are in completely different points in space. SolidWorks doesn't care if two parts interfere, or if they don't really fit.
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- Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
  
  Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 28, 2016 3:58 PM (in response to Peter Brinkhuis)
  
  @Peter Brinkhuis
  I've now done as you suggested. I created the part (grey L-shaped) and connected it directly to the rotating pin at the bottom through mating, but the Join doesn't rotate when i rotate the attached part. Neither does the attached part rotate when i rotate the handle at the top?
  Any suggestions?
  
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  - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
    
    Timothy Taby Jun 28, 2016 4:16 PM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
    
    How do you have the yellow, orange, green, and purple piece matted? They should all have a concentric mate and a location type mate (Most likely coincident). If you have a 3rd mate on any of those parts or on the handles locking the rotational axis, the thing will not turn
    
    Here is a example I did real quick of a bearing and a shaft.
    
    First mate is a concentric from the ID of the bearing to the OD of the shaft.
    
    then use a distance mate (or a coincident if you wish to) to lock the parts forward and back motion.
    
    That is all the mate you need and the part will rotate freely in the assembly. If you put any other mates on these parts it will no longer rotate, which I assume is what is happening on your assembly.
    
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    - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
      
      Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 28, 2016 4:28 PM (in response to Timothy Taby)
      
      That's exactly how I've been mating the parts
      
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  - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
    
    Peter Brinkhuis Jun 28, 2016 4:19 PM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
    
    Have you added three mates between every set of parts that should be connected? That is amount that is usually necessary. You can check that by selecting two parts in the tree and clicking the second tab in the tree. It will highlight the mates that connect both parts.
    
    It is hard to debug your assembly without a view of the mates. Can you create a pack and go and upload your assembly? If uploading images is easier for you
    
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    - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
      
      Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 28, 2016 4:23 PM (in response to Peter Brinkhuis)
      
      Is there a way for me to show you the assembly file?
      
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  - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
    
    Sindre Sorhus Jun 29, 2016 2:08 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
    
    Hi Gilgamesh,
    Did you created the L-bracket in context of the assembly (Assembly->Insert Components->New Part)? In that case it get a mate that fix the part to a plane automatically, so you will have to suppress/delete this mate to enable movement of that part in the assembly. In the feature tree, expand the l-bracket part folder and then open the Mates folder inside the part. If you see a InPlace mate, suppress it and test the movement again.
    
    Hope this helps.
    Br,
    Sindre
    
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Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly

Timothy Taby Jun 28, 2016 3:54 PM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)

You have two issues, the first of which is editing the part and creating the square end on it to fit the extension piece. You can either right click on the part in the assembly and edit the part while in the assembly........

Or you could always just open the actual part and modify it and then when you go back into the assembly it will automatically update itself with the changes you made in part mode. It's generally easier to make changes to a part in part mode since you don't have to worry about all the other stuff in the way. Only time I actually edit parts in assembly mode is when I am trying to make holes line up or when its important to see the fit with other parts.

Your second issue is the mates to get your joint to rotate properly. Mates are all about freedom of movements in either a linear or rotational directions. Basically a part can move in 3 directions and can rotate in 3 directions. So, assuming your base is fixed and not moving, all you have to do is constrain your pin in all 3 linear directions and 2 of the rotational directions. Easiest way to do this is to do a concentric mate between your hole in the base piece (blue part) and the pin, then add a distance mate from the face of the base piece (blue part) to the end of the pin. Now the pin can rotate in the hole but not move forward or back.
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- Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
  
  Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 28, 2016 4:17 PM (in response to Timothy Taby)
  
  Timothy Taby
  I agree that it would a a lot easier to edit the part seperately in part-mode. It's just a part of the exercise to edit it in assembly mode, in order to learn :-)
  Also, when I try to edit a part in assembly mode through insert component > New part > *choose surface/plane* this mess happens:
  It looks very messy and it becomes very difficult to edit anything, because I basically can't see anything. Do you know how to change this?
  
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  - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
    
    Timothy Taby Jun 28, 2016 4:24 PM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
    
    I have been using Solidworks for 14 years and what you show in your picture above is exactly why I don't edit parts in the assembly. It is to hard to pick on the surfaces and edges that you want to manipulate while in assembly mode.
    
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    - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
      
      Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 28, 2016 4:42 PM (in response to Timothy Taby)
      
      Timothy
      Could you perhaps look at my file and see what I'm doing wrong, if you don't mind?
      It's difficult to do it this way, through words and pictures...
      
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    - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
      
      Michael Monds Jun 30, 2016 11:51 AM (in response to Timothy Taby)
      
      I agree the transparent assembly when editing a component is difficult. this setting keeps everything solid. much easier to select
      
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      - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
        
        Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 30, 2016 12:56 PM (in response to Michael Monds )
        
        Thanks!
        
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Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly

Timothy Taby Jun 28, 2016 4:38 PM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)

click on the link below and download my assembly of a pin and a block. Look at the mates and rotate the shaft, this is how you do it.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/vve05dmihgkvz57/Assem3.zip?dl=0
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- Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
  
  Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 28, 2016 4:55 PM (in response to Timothy Taby)
  
  I get this error when i open the assembly:
  
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  - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
    
    Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 29, 2016 7:43 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
    
    Is it because we use different versions? Mine is from Solidworks 2015
    
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    - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
      
      Sindre Sorhus Jun 29, 2016 7:56 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
      
      It is the same for every version. I have 2015 as well, and I can take a look at your model if you upload it. It is quicker to pin point the issue then.
      
      Br,
      Sindre
      
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    - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
      
      Timothy Taby Jun 29, 2016 9:05 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
      
      Yes, I did that one in 2016. below is a link to the same assembly done in 2015 so you can open it.
      
      https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/m12a6o3psgsjuq0/Assem1.zip?dl=0
      
      Start with something simple like the assembly did with a single part getting it to rotate.
      
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Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly

Timothy Taby Jun 29, 2016 8:12 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)

If you want us to look at your assembly then you need to use the pack & go (Under file) then make it a zip file

Then do this
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- Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
  
  Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 29, 2016 9:17 AM (in response to Timothy Taby)
  
  I hope this is the correct way
  https://www.dropbox.com/home/Solidworks%20Exercises?preview=Cardan_Joint_Assembly_with_extension.zip
  
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  - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
    
    Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 29, 2016 9:17 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
    
    Dropbox - Cardan_Joint_Assembly_with_extension.zip
    
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    - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
      
      Timothy Taby Jun 29, 2016 10:01 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
      
      Yep, like Sindre said, you need to fix the mate between the shaft and the female yoke, when I opened the assembly it had and error on that mate and the reference to the female yoke was missing.
      
      You also need a hole in the extension piece to mate it to the shaft, it's only got one coincident mate to make it on the same plane as the end of the shaft, that won't make it rotate with the shaft and yokes.
      
      Also, another thing is you want to either bring your base piece in on the assembly planes, or move ti there via mates on it is in, right now your assembly is floating in the middle of no where in relation to your assembly planes.
      
      you want this
      
      Not this
      
      Just a really good practice to get into.
      
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  - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
    
    Sindre Sorhus Jun 29, 2016 9:42 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
    
    Thank you.
    I think the initial reason for you not beeing able to rotate the bracket was due to a missing mate between "shaft" and "yoke female".
    If you see through the video I think you will be able to get this thing going pretty quick. The modified model is attached, but I don't think you need it
    
    br,
    Sindre
    
    Rotate L-bracket.mp4 2.6 MB
    
    Cardan_Joint_Assembly_with_extension.zip 1.2 MB
    
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    - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
      
      Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 29, 2016 11:45 AM (in response to Sindre Sorhus)
      
      Thank you for your time and efforts.
      Although, I would like to see the modified model, if you still have. I really can't find the missing mate.
      
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      - Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
        
        Sindre Sorhus Jun 30, 2016 2:44 AM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
        
        Actually, the modified model is attached to previous post. I added a coincident mate between right plane in the shaft and the front plane of yoke female. Without this mate, the rotation from the cardan joint will not be translated to the shaft and L-bracket.
        
        br,
        Sindre
        
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        Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
        
        Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 30, 2016 9:37 AM (in response to Sindre Sorhus)
        
        I'm sorry for bothering you so much, but it simply doesn't work. For me it seems like, that the shaft and female-yoke is mated correctly, because the entire joint rotates, when i rotate the shaft. The problem is still that the L-bracket can't make the entire joint rotate...
        
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        Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
        
        Gilgamesh Ryusaba Jun 30, 2016 10:10 AM (in response to Sindre Sorhus)
        
        I created the mates between the planes that you specified in your previous post, and it seems to be working now! For the sake of good measure, i added the square peg :-)
        The entire thing rotates when the L-bracket is rotated. And the entire thing rotates when the handle is rotated.
        But what did I even mate, since it worked? I couldn't really see what i mated :-/
        It's these planes i don't see:
        
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        Re: Editing the end of a cylinder in Assembly
        
        Timothy Taby Jun 30, 2016 12:58 PM (in response to Gilgamesh Ryusaba)
        
        With mates you really have to understand the six degrees of motion ( Six degrees of freedom - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ) for each part in your assembly. When you place a part in your assembly cit an move in the X, Y , & Z direction and can also rotate around X, around Y, or around the Z axis as well (exception being the first part if it's fixed). When you mate a part to either a plane, axis, or other part you start taking away the movement or rotation about the assembly axis. In order for a part to rotate you have to leave one of the rotational axis free to move. It's actually pretty simple once you get the hang of it, but it does take some practice.
        
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