【转帖】figuring out an approach for t-slot extrusions

yang686526

figuring out an approach for t-slot extrusions
i have been using weldments for design of frames that use aluminum t-slot extrusions. however, while there are things i love about weldments, there are also limitations that make it less desirable for t-slots (which it wasn't really designed for).
the complex shapes of the extrusion are a challenge to do as a weldment because any small edits cause the entire weldment to re-generate. also, it is harder to change profile sizes after you create an assembly, because most of the items mated to the weldment will loose those mates. so, i figure it is much easier to just use the weldment feature as it was originally intended and use a plain square extrusion shape.
but, for the t-slots themselves, we don't actually need the slot itself except as a visual representation showing things like how many slots there are.
so, perhaps i can write a vba routine that will add the visual appearance of the slots by creating 3-d sketches for each t-slot extrusion.
the vba steps would be;
search the assembly for any extruded features beginning with "t-slot".
obtain the value for the length of the extrusion, and the orientation of the sketch plane, and the location of any sketch points (the pierce points in a weldment).
create a new 3d sketch, and draw a line the length of the extrusion where any sketch points exist.
does this sound viable? any other ideas?
joe dunfee
sw2008 sp4
sw 2009 sp3.0 windows xp
hp compaq dc5800 microtower
nvidia quadro fx 3700
hi joe,
yes, you could do what you are suggesting with a macro. however, i think you should look into the weldments a bit closer first.
can you explain a little more how using a square would help you with losing mates in an assembly?
also, how would a 3d sketch help you visual see where the slots are? could you color the faces that have slots?
have fun!
to start, i will assume you are, at least, roughly familiar with how custom extrusion profiles are created for weldments.
when i create a weldment, and later mate to it, the mates internally refer to each face by its id number. if i change from a t-slot extrusion that was created using the very same original sketch, such as one with thicker walls, then my mates will be preserved.
i imagine this is because the id of the face somehow gets at least part of its number from the sketch line it comes from. this would happen if the profile the thicker-walled version comes from, was created by first copying the thinner-walled sketch and then just changing the values of some of the dimensions. sw, seems to be able to recognize that a particular face is equivalent in this instance.
however, if i change a weldment to use a different profile, based on a sketch that was created without the original sketch as its source, then sw cannot recognize what faces are the new replacements for the mates. for example if i change from a t-slot that has only one slot, to a wider one that has two slots, i would have had to create this second custom profile sketch by adding lines. the id#'s of the lines would be different. though, it is possible that some of the lines would be the same id#, unless i truly started with a blank sketch.
joe dunfee
sw 2008 sp4
sw 2009 sp3.0 windows xp
hp compaq dc5800 microtower
nvidia quadro fx 3700
sorry to pick up on this a few months later, but i'm just getting into a similar situation. however, i was able to take a profile from my aluminum manufacturer and doctor it into a sketch from the square tubing directory and save it out as a new library file. basically, i preserved the actual line segments and dimensions that defined the faces and finessed them into the new profile. it took a little work, but using weldments with these profiles was a lot easier than trying to configure & mate all the different lengths i would need.
the only problem i'm running into is that the end treatments aren't trimming properly (understandably a stretch if they would have). maybe solidworks can add it to the 2010 wish list to have vendors such as 80/20, minitec, bosch, item, etc. work their profiles into the standard weldment package that would make that work. (oh, and offer a "simplified" profile. we really don't need to know about the .015" fillet inside the t-slot when we're trying to guard a large machine!).
i can design anything you can afford!
:d
sw 2008 sp5
windows vista business 64
dell precision t5400
xeon 5420 processor
nvidia quadro fx1700
dual dell 24" monitors
originally posted by: rich schneider
the only problem i'm running into is that the end treatments aren't trimming properly (understandably a stretch if they would have).
i am not clear about the end treatment you are wanting.
joe dunfee
sw 2009 sp3.0 windows xp
hp compaq dc5800 microtower
nvidia quadro fx 3700
quick