Hi,
I am trying to make a set of overlapping spheres that form a cylinder of specified dimensions (sort of like a lattice of bucky balls), but I cannot figure out an efficient way to do this using solidworks. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
JP
Hi,
I am trying to make a set of overlapping spheres that form a cylinder of specified dimensions (sort of like a lattice of bucky balls), but I cannot figure out an efficient way to do this using solidworks. Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
JP
This is the first attempt:
See attached SW file.
There are a few weak spots in this example.
1. The linear pattern has to select all solid bodies created by the circular pattern. That works if you lower the number of spheres, but if you make the number bigger, it will not select the new bodies. You would have to select them manually.
2. The equation for the Plane1 offset does not seem to update.
3. You might need to trim the bodies from the top of the cylinder, or modify the equation accordingly.
This works better if you cheat a little, by bridging the spherical bodies created by the circular pattern into one body.
See attached.
One more thing Juan. I have just noticed that you posted in the assembly forum. You can do the same thing in the assembly with component patterns. The rebuilds will actually be much faster at the assembly level than in the part environment.
Let me know if you need such an example also.
Alin -
Juan hasn't responded at all, but from his wording I would guess that he actually wants them to fill in the gaps - so the number of spheres in each row would alternate so that they mingle together (as he said, overlap).
Not that it makes it more difficult, just entails adding 2nd row before the linear pattern
Hi Alin,
Thank you so much for the help.
The gaps in between the spheres is okay, but I should've mentioned that I would like to make a solid array, i.e. have spheres on the inside too. The geometry of the array does not need to be symmetric in any way, it can be a random array contained within a cylinder as long as the spheres are in contact with one another.
Thanks again
Juan
Aha. Like this?
Or even better, let's use just linear patterns. Give me a minute.
Alin, I think he's wanting them nested. i.e. each ball in the second layer sitting tangential to 3 balls in the first layer.
I think Shot Gun shell loading
Thanks Kelvin, you are most likely correct.
Anyhow, one more option - see attached.
Alin, I tried to open the part but it cannot open and says 'Future Version', I have SW Education Edition 2011-2012.
Thanks again
Here's my go at it. This more closely maximizes the amount of balls in the space mimicking the 'buckey ball' concept. Alin, very clever idea with that extrude/merge then delete body feature.
Edit: I should note that the 'Cut-Extrude-2' hole should've been suppressed in the Default config.
Nice one, Don!
I really like your solution!
Nice challenge!!! I believe the API guys would be able to create such a macro in no time, but let's try also to do it with regular SW tools.
Give me some time and I'll come back with an example.