Energy Chains

[SMO]

NX Community,

Just wondering if anyone has come up with a 'stable' and 'user friendly' way of controlling Energy Chains at the assembly level?
I'm currently developing a process at work, and tried several ways of doing this, but I'm sure there's other ways I haven't thought of.
Based on some key requirements, I've narrowed it down to one process that's pretty 'stable', however not the most 'user friendly'.
Before I implement this way of working I'm interested in seeing what the experts are doing.

P.S. If anyone is interested in how I'm proposing to do it, I would be glad to share.

Thanks in advance,
Sean

 

[cowski]

Can you define exactly what you mean by "energy chain"? That's a term I've not heard before in relation to NX.

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[SMO]

Energy Chains are off-the-Shelf cable barriers used to contain, protect and guide cables and hoses, usually while parts are moving in an assembly.
They are often used in mechatronic systems i.e. robotics.
Functionally, they behave like any bicycle chain, but without having a closed configuration.
One end is usually fixed while the other end moves in 1 or 2 axis.

Image attached

 

[cowski]

Ah, ok.
Are you using the "routing" module in NX? I've not used it, but there might be something in there that would help. Perhaps someone with some routing expertise can offer comments.

I did a quick search on this site, here's a thread with a similar problem:
thread561-376791

Also, here are a few threads about modeling roller chain, which poses a very similar problem:
thread561-309227
thread561-269578
thread561-256229

www.nxjournaling.com

 

[Toost]

We had an example of a such here a couple of years ago, Didier posted an example.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=376791

We call these "cable chains" in local language, i always thought that it was the international name.
I think that i have Didiers assembly somewhere.

I can probably upload it.

Regards,
Tomas

 

[Toost]

Found Didiers files, with my constraints
I am pretty sure Didier don't mind that I share these. (Didier ?)


Regards,
Tomas

 

[Toost]

"Click Here To Insert Your File's Link Into Your Post & Return To the Forums"......
Need I say more ?

 

[Ehaviv]

Hi Sean

Can you share those several ways.

Are all in Assembly constraints or also
In mechanism and mechanical routing.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Javiduc]

I have tried to methods.
The first one was drawing a sketch with the path of the chain, unite the curves of the sketch, insert links as components and restrict the components to the united curve. It did work well for slight path modifications but if the modifications were big the assembly restrictions didn't find a solution (the first end of the chain was static but the second end rotated around an axis) finally I amended the assembly by creating two arrangements with links components restricted to two different paths; initial and final position, as I didn't care about intermediate positions, just needed to know if the chain collide in the extreme positions.
The second one was using the NX11 limit assembly restrictions which allow you to define a range of distances or angles between to parts. I defined the angle range one link could stay from the previous link, then I moved the second end of the chain and the links moved with it. This method allow me to see the chain not only in extreme positions but also in intermediate positions beside I didn't need to create arrangements, just move second end link which is an easier method. It worked fine sometimes but other the links were to strange positions, maybe because this is a new NX11 feature.
I can't say if these two methods are good or not. I have to learn more about them and maybe about other methods. Just sharing my experience.

 

[Ehaviv]

Thank you Javiduc

In assembly restrictions Did you mean Assembly constraints.
why you should unite the sketch ?

Are you mean constraint the links components
to the sketch curves.

 

[Javiduc]

Yes, I meant assembly constraints and I meant constraint the link components to the sketch curves but not each sketch curve but all at the same time, that was the reason I unite the sketch. Because when I edit the sketch some links that were constrained to a line need to change and be constrained to an arc which was close to the line. I unite in order to make the whole path just one element. I am not sure if this worked properly though. Sorry about my translation skills.