Hiya all.

I know this is a lot to ask but I'm really getting frustrated now. To the point that very soon my pc will be exiting the house via a 1st floor window.

Could some please explain (WITHOUT JARGON) how to do the chassis diagnols in solidworks?

I'm trying to do my chassis in solidworks and have made parts for all the horizontal and vertical (squared off ends) tubes. But after 3 days of trying I can't for the life of me figure out how to do those tubes that need an angle on the end. i.e. the diagnols.

Please please could someone help me on this as I'm feeling like I've wasted 4 days and am almost in tears of frustration.

I BLOODY HATE computers!!!! What was wrong with a pencil and paper?

[Edited on 11/12/06 by DorsetStrider]

If Soildworks is like Autodesk Inventor you will need to create a new work or sketch plane for the second cut

Carl

quote:

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Originally posted by DorsetStrider

I BLOODY HATE computers!!!! What was wrong with a pencil and paper?

[Edited on 11/12/06 by DorsetStrider]

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Yep, Weldments are the way forward in producing frameworks of profile/section type material, just as you would do when designing a chassis.

I'm not sure how you are trying to produce the model from your description, but as Seabass says, go through the online tutorial (help, online tutorials, and choose the weldments one) in SW, and all will be come clear. It will only take you a couple of hours max to go through that tutorial, and then you should be able to produce what you want.

If you are already using weldments, and cannot get a diagonal to form properly, then don't forget that SW doesn't like it when you have an intersection of more than 2 segments of the framework at the same point (eg, where I diagonal element would meet two other elements in a corner). See the tutorial for how they cope with diagonals.

If you have any more specific information regarding your problem, let me know, and I would be happy to explain where you might be going wrong

Cheers
Andy

Are you trying to create a chassis as one part (.sldprt) or an assembly of many chassis tubes (.sldasm)?

If you have created all the horizontal and vertical sketchs in one part file then use the 3D sketch function to create the diagonals.

Welded steel structures should be created as one part in Solidworks and then if needed each member can be exported out that is linked to the structure


Dave

so you are just trying to cut the angles on the ends of your tubes? I use CATIA but its pretty similar, all you should need to do is select the side of your tube, create a new sketch on it, and draw a line at the relevant angle. then box in the area you want to cut off, and you should be done. Alternatively, draw the side of your tube and extrude it 25mm, then hollow it afterwards.
hope thats some help
Matt

you could draft the profile of the end, and sweep it along a rail curve (i.e. the length of the pipe)

Thats just another way of doing it

Tom

Depends on what mood i was in when i started modelling as to weather ive used weldments or not.

If youve started by drawing profiles and extruding then.....

I usually use a new 3D sketch, and click on the point at the end of a section. Draw a 3D line to the end of the next section. (I always forget to click the green tick to finish the 3d sketch cause im a numpty)

Insert a plane that is Normal to the 3D line and offset from the end point. (I think its tools menu?, insert new reference geometry. Select the line and change the plane type to "Normal"

Draw the section sketch so that the corect corner is on the 3D line Using a coincidence constriant in the sketcher.

i then sweep the sketch along the line in both directions using "Until Next" or "Until Surface" option.

If its done with weldments then as per other suggestions.

[Edited on 11/12/06 by jono_misfit]

Thanks for all your adivse guys..... although I have to admit I didn't understand a word of it.

One of you asked how I'm doing it...

So far I've been building individual tubes as single parts then joining (mating) them together in an assembly.... is this not right? it is it not the best/easest way?

gonna try figuring out this weldament thingy. As always if any of you think of anything thats not mentioned please let me know.

Many thanks.

You are making life so hard for yourself making individual tubes a sticking them together. The best way is to use a combination of 2D and 3D sketched to create a wire frame. From this you can open the weldment feature and start plonking profiles on lines.

Dave

[Edited on 15/12/06 by Mad Dave]

Mad Dave:

WHOOOOOOOOSH!

Ok what you said just went completely over my head. Although I'm not doubting I'm doing it the hard way as after spending hours on this I'm in the whole "there must be an easier way" place right now.