Currently working with a large assembly of a heat exchanger coil consisting of coil tubes and fins. All components are fully defined and the model confirms this. When I add a pattern of a component that is fully defined the model reverts to "under defined". Cannot find a method to "fix" pattern. Any help will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Art
Thanks!
Yes, they are all fully constrained...prior to pattern. it is the pattern that indicates "under defined". Each pattern part has (-) in front.
Just tried a backdoor around the problem that appears to be working. I created a new assembly composed of the part and pattern. Then I dissolved the pattern, fixed patterned parts. This new assembly was then brought into the original/main assembly, mated, and the result is a fully defined assembly. I previously tried: dissolve/fix inside the main assembly and it did not work. Bringing a new assembly that has fixed components works. Cannot explain it though.
Ok Art, I misunderstood you. I thought after you patterned you got failures.
When you pattern it just patterns the components, not the mates. They will
always show up with (-) sign infront.
Actually the failures do occur after patterning. The failure is that the complete main assembly develops the problem of "under-defined" after patterning one component. I was not able to rectify the failure/problem within the main assembly. Attempts included: dissolve then fix pattern (created over-defined mates), and a search of help files for a conventional fix. As mentioned above the only solution I have been able to find is to create a new assembly of the part/pattern and bring this new assembly into the main. Question remains, can patterns created within an assembly be fully defined within this original main assembly?
Ok, are there any external references that it is not finding therefore messing it up?
None apparent.
Are the failing mates just in one part or are they over a few parts?
Have you tried rebuilding the assembly?
What if you were to start by eliminating some mates till you find the problem child.
What version are you running?
The failing mates are over the 3 original components that were inserted, fully mated, resulting in the assembly (lower right screen corner) showing "Fully Defined". When I attempted to "dissolve/fix" the patterned components the failed mates were all of the mates created for the original 3 components.
Did you tried rebuilding the assembly (or force rebuild by pressing Ctrl + Q). After you pattern that part, are you able to move/rotate the so called under defined part now with left/right drag. Does it happen with other file also.
Also read this post for your future reference: Forum Posting
Yes. I did rebuild, save, refresh. No, the patterned components would not move after pattern creation I tried all directions. For now, I seem to have found a working solution as described above, but find it odd that I had to go around. I will continue with the model for now and hope that it will hold together for Simulation in the next phase. I would hate to think that I must individually insert and mate each of the 1220 fins if this work around does not hold!
Thanks to all for your help!
I recall that I was doing Motion Analysis with an underdefined assembly, and that fully defining it made no difference to anything except the Feature Tree symbols.
I recall that I made the fix outside of the top assembly but I cannot recall the details.
I found rigid sub assemblies to be a very useful technique which is rarely mentioned here. You may be on the correct track.
Art,
Welcome to the forum.
Are any of the patterned components fixed? If so float them and contrain them.