Modelling Trays ...

[Syncro5]

After reading a previous post on this forum I now understand that the way to go is to start with a solid block, cut in the cavities, flip the part over and shell.

I need to design a tray which has a constant base (stack one way and nest the other) but the cavities must be easily changed (this is because the customer may change the parts which are to sit in the cavities). To model the tray I started with a blank model of the part to be carried. I then offset a surface around the part, and built up the tray around using the swept surface and trim surface tools. However, when I changed the features of the original blank I was bombarder with rebuild errors.

I think the idea of starting with a solid and shelling it (as mentioned above) would work but I'm quite the novice...can you use a solid body (i.e. the part blank) to make a cut into another solid body (i.e. the tray block)?? If so does any one know the where-abouts of any tutorials?

Many thanks, Joe. P.S. I have attached a JPEG image of the tray to give you an idea of the cavity complexity.

 

[MadMango]

Look in Help for Cavities. Tutorials are all over the place...

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=solidworks+cavity+tutorial

Sorry, couldn't resist.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."


Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[Syncro5]

Haha thanks again MadMango...I did come across a couple of these tutorials but I've never used the mould toolbar before in SW...do the mould halves act as normal solids (i.e. can the upper half be removed, and the lower half be shelled from the under side?) If so I should be able to create a tray from a shelled mould part? (I'm learning so this thread isn't a total wast of time...promise!)

Thanks, Joe.

 

[MadMango]

Using Insert>Molds>Split will create a multi-body model. You can hide the half you don't want, and can create additional features as a normal model. I usually just create a cutting plane to remove the excess material (not using Split feature), but simply because I don't like multi-body models (in most cases). I don't do a lot of mold design however, so hopefully someone else will chime in to help.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."


Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[MadMango]

Another thought, you don't have to use Split at all. Just insert your seed components into the tray where needed and then perform the Cavity function. You don't need to "submerge" your components totally inside the base part.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."


Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of these Forums?

 

[Syncro5]

Thats great, thanks a lot! It's looking great but still a few tweeks to do tomorrow!