Hi
I am trying to build a parametric approach for my students who are designing walking mechanisms. See attached.
It is great to first of all sketch out a known mechanism as a 2d layout e.g. Jensen linkage and then animate this, get stride length and torque estimations from a motion study and iterate. I have been importing a set of global variables (link lengths) including a scale factor which allows us to apply the variables to the layout as dimensions to each block and then change the linkage lengths through a single variable control.
I have been successful in building the 2d blocks into 3d parts and changeing variables for materoial thickness, hole size, raddi etc but changing the linkage scale just gives me a ton of rebuild errors. Should I just accept solidworks can't do this or does anyone have a suggestion for keeping dynamic scaling throughout the 3D design process?
It seems that when all geometry changes at the same time the mates break and cannot re-establish themselves. I also haven't been able to find much information on top down modelling in terms of best practice of retaining the blocks and relations, or dissolving these once in 3D and using mates as much as possible.
My vision was that the many students who are not successful in designing a functional prototype due to building too big or running out of energy and time close to deadlines, and giving up due to the mammoth task of rescaling individual parts, could build their model upon scalable layout blocks and have an easier way to alter mechanism scale independent of holes, shafts motor and gear housings. also develop a better appreciation of parametric modelling.
Kind regards
Ross
