Sweeping multiple paths

[BlindChickenRacing]

I have been trying to find a way to create a wireframe for a tubular buggy chassis then sweep it to turn it into tubes. I am finding that most of the time I try to do any sweep it tells me it cannot be done for any number of reasons. To make a long story short, I have a few questions.

Can you sweep a dividing path with a single shape? If the drawing were to represent a Y or union in the tubular structure, can you set the sweep for all of it? (I wouldn't guess so actually)

Can you set a sweep from the middle of the path line? What would be nice is if I could define a plane that intersects more than one cross bar, create the shape for each, then have it sweep both ways.

I am supposed to have the pipe module for SW 2003 but have never found a reference to it. How do you access it?

Thanks,

Mark


__________________________
Mark Johnson

http://www.blindchickenracing.com

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

"Can you sweep a dividing path with a single shape?" & "Can you set a sweep from the middle of the path line?"
Not that I know of. That would make it a single part & that's not how it would be made in real life. Make separate parts & join them in a sub-assy.

"I am supposed to have the pipe module for SW 2003 but have never found a reference to it. How do you access it?"
Tools > Add-Inns > SolidWorks Piping


from Barrie, Ontario.

For Sale: Parachute. Only used once, never opened, small stain
faq559-863

 

[APPENG]

Mark,

I used to design Racing Chassis for NASCAR, SCCA, and IMSA series cars, and I am doing the same now for a new demo for Solidworks. You can use the new weldment tool for creating square and round tube chassis but the limitation is that the runs of tubing must be straight. To get around this I created a library feature part that contains just the sketch of the tube profile. Draw my lines using 3d sketch, add sketch fillets where needed, createa plane normal to the curve at one end of the tube path... then insert that library feature and sweep... It works very well...

If you need more help let me know I can help.



Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com

 

[Arlin]

I believe the weldment function in SWX2005 will overcome the straight section limitation....

 

[APPENG]

I am hoping for that... I have been talking to them about it since the rollout of 2004!

Regards,
Jon
jgbena@yahoo.com