80/20 Frame construction

[moon161]

I'm working on a design of a frame w/ 80/20 alum section now, but I suppose it applies generally. Right now I have a library w/ various length of 80/20 section, which is fine until somebody comes and says great, make it 2" longer and a foot taller, then I'm switching stuff out and making lengths I don't have etc.

Is there a way to make the structure sketch driven, sort of like a weldment?

 

[SnowCrash]

I have been working with 80/20 (actually prefer T-Slots where it fits). I import components and profiles from 3Dcontentcentral and the format varies. Sometimes it is a configurable length of a profile. Usually you get a parasolids imported section. I bring them in at 1.00", establish a plane in the center, copy the profile to a sketch, and extrude mid plane to the length dimension I want. I make that dimension a property for the BOM.
Since there is so much variation on holes, pilots, and other features, I just make a new PN for each version I need. That way, if that particular one changes, it does not affect any other assemblies.
After the last project I went back and tried to redo it as a weldment. Like dancing with an elephant, It can be done, but what's the point?
T-Slots is (possibly) working on an add-in for SWX.

--
Hardie "Crashj" Johnson
SW 2010 SP 4.0
HP Pavillion Elite HPE
W7 Pro, Nvidia Quaddro FX580

 

[ShaggyPE]

Seems like creating a library of sketch profiles and using the weldment functionality would be the exact way to go. I am surprised that the library doesn't already exist.

-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Pretty good with SolidWorks

 

[Eltron]

Yeah, weldments are the way to got. You will have to create your own weldment profiles, though.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[ctopher]

Weldments are the way to go.

http://www.8020.net/design-tools-31.asp

http://www.8020.net/new_products.asp

http://www.3dcontentcentral.com/parts/supplier/80 20-Inc.aspx

http://averyswellidea.com/2011/02/08/solidworks-weldments-the-3-member-miter/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mDS1Cbw3QI

Chris
SolidWorks 10 SP4.0
ctopher's home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[moon161]

Good experience doing it as weldment. Haven't done it by creating a mess of new parts to compare, but I don't have a billion mates to drive me crazy either. You do need to get friendly w/ 3d sketching & find/create section profiles.

 

[moon161]

Side note: SWX will only generate a cut sheet if the weldment (part) has it's own view in the drawing. An assembly view that includes the weldment will not do.