Modelling Flexible Bellows

[Adrian2]

Dear Folks;

I have to model a flexible tapered rubber bellows which is approx .5" in dia at one end and .25 at the other. It is about 1.5" long in the uncompressed state. In operation a fluid line is pushed into the short end and locked in place, the pressure of the bellows keeps a watertight seal.

I am hoping that with SW2004 spring tools I can show the thing slightly compressed and in the free state without having to make 2 seperate models or configurations.

Has anyone tried this sort of thing and would they be willing to share their methods and experiences. I know I can make 2 parts, one expanded, the other compressed but it would be nice to see the thing operate in the assembly as one part as it is in real life.

Best Regards

Adrian Dunevein
aaadrafting.com

 

[APPENG]

Adrian,

There is a way to model a thing such as this using the "top down" assembly approach. I have done similar things here. Basically you will define the sketch that creates the bellows using references to its mating part(s) in the asembly. When those parts move. the sketches in the bellows will update. This will require that you really define your sketches well and test them.

You could also use equations in the assembly to drive parameters in the bellows part as an alternative.

hope that helps


Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[SBaugh]

You should look at the SW model library under -

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/ser....html?C1=Modeling Techniques&C2=Miscellaneous

There is a downloadable part there by Steve Baker of Edaya, Inc. It's pretty sweet and might answer some of your questions.