Ray Reynolds "There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
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Yes, I have gone through the Solidworks Help. It explains two round gears well. But my problem is one round gear running a linear rack.
And under simlulation, I can get the rack to be a linear motor, but cannot mate it to run the gear.
Will physical dynamics help? Ie. literatlly make one part push the other as it would in practice. I have tried some stuff like this (not a linear rack) and it did function. Mine was a rather complex adjustable postion ball detent mechanism currently in process of being patented. In this mechanism, a steel ball completely floats in an oversize bore and is pressed by a spring against two other machined parts at an odd angle to accurately register them against eachother. Eventually the ball will snap out of one part and allow then to move appart until returned.
It definitely works for a pin/wheel escapement mechanism.
If it works for those, it should work for a linear track?
Do you want to know as a part of autocad? if so, I would not know. Now if you wanted to actually mate the rack and pinion I would have some thoughts... First make sure the pinion and rack are running at the proper pitch line, etc... I would need to know more of what you are trying to do before I could offer any thing more useful. if you have any further questions I can be reached at william@mooregear.com I'll try to look in on this thread as well.
If you are using SolidWorks Toolbox spur gears and racks, there is a ToothCutSke sketch under the Tooth feature where you can find the pitch diameter or line. Use the convert entities function to transfer that circle and line to new sketches in both parts. Then in the assembly create a tangent mate between the sketches.
That will create optimum alignment such that physical dynamics can be used with move component to get the components to react according to the tooth mesh.
Note that you will have to move the driver slowly and allow for the backlash in the teeth to catch up with your mouse movement. To make the animation have a smoother start, create coincident or tangent mate between two mating teeth and then suppress it just prior to starting the rotate component command.
I would think this would be a reasonable enhancement request to ask for from SolidWorks. I actually have a need for a linear rack to gear mate in the products I design. Physical dynamics is a hog when it comes to computing, especially if you have to travel any decent distance with the rack. For the machine I work on, its not practical at all to do it this way. A specialized gear mate could work very well. I also have a need for a mate that could define the movement of a ball screw or lead screw. I will submit these as enhancement requests and keep my fingers crossed that they will make it into a release by a year or two from now. Why doesn't everyone here do the same - you never know...
pdybeck.......... because I rarely if ever (never so far except to try helping you out) have a need for this, but I do have a need for other enhancements that you don't. When it boils down to it, majority rules. So I am very unlikely to request an enhancement on someone else's behalf when it would compete with the things I want myself. On the other hand if you are willing to submit my list...........
I geuss my point is don't hold you breath. Moslty only the nahancements that a significant percentage of users need will get addressed.
John Richards Sr. Mech. Engr.
Rockwell Collins Flight Dynamics
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