constraining to a slot so the part can move between centers of the slot

[sam5a1]

I'm trying to constrain a part to a slot so the part can move between the centers of the slot along the center of the slot. Like a steam engine, I want an arm to be able to move from center to center of the slot but no further while staying on the center of the slot.
I've included a picture to help clarify this.

Scott
NX 7.5.3

 

[JohnRBaker]

Attached is a simple assembly where I've constrained the 'slider' to the 'slot', but the translation movement is not limited by the length of the slot but it will meet your requirements if the movement of the slider is actually being controlled by some other feature, such as a 'crank' which would control the actual extents of the movement of the 'slider'.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[sam5a1]

There's the rub, when the slider gets to either end of the slot it stops and that keeps the rest of the mechanism from moving.

 

[SiW979]

You can also use the center 2 - 2 option to do the same thing.

Best regards

Simon NX7.5.4.4 MP8 - TC 8 www.jcb.com

 

[jerry1423]

Maybe by reading this thread you'll get an idea for your application:

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=215450

 

[sam5a1]

Thanks for the link, unfortunatly it didn't address the issue of creating a way to have the slider stop at the end of the slot when the slot is the controlling item. I tried using "Stop Before Collision" in the collision detection but that interfered with the movement of parts other than the slider plate. I added a a picture showing the slider stopped against on end of the slot and then moving to the other end and stopping at the collision. Is there a way to use expressions to modify constraints to do this?

 

[ME95M3]

Did this ever get solved?

Using UG NX 7.0

 

[sam5a1]

No, not yet. Nobody's comeup with a way to stop the slider from moving past the ends of the slot, emulating the Stop before collision command.

 

[ewh]

Too bad... I can think of several similar situations where such would help the workflow here.

“Know the rules well, so you can break them effectively.”
-Dalai Lama XIV

 

[ME95M3]

Is there a way to get a point to follow a line? Maybe through tangency or mate constrain? Idea is to have a point in the pin follow a sketched line in the slot. The point would be in the middle of the pin, and the line in the center plane of the slot.

Using UG NX 7.0

 

[JohnRBaker]

Yes, that's possible except that, irrespective of how long the actual line is, the constraint treats it as if were infinitely long. If fact, the example I uploaded on 4 Jan used that exact approach.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Engineering Software
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA
Siemens PLM:
UG/NX Museum:

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.