I started on Solidworks, and I found myself confronted with an aesthetic problem. The cabinet I'm designing has several tilting trays, I want to make sure that the pivot of the first tray stops when it reaches the ceiling. Similarly with the last chainring, I want it to stop when it hits the floor.
Here is an illustration of my problem:
http://imageshack.com/a/img21/561/avu4.jpg
I tried to limit the angle from the angle constraints menu, directly, but I can't do it.
1- You can rotate your tray manually with a colission detection with the cabinet.
Then when you constrain your pieces, you have the minimum limit angle constraint (e.g.).
You can repeat the operation with the other chainring, and you have the other rotation constraint.
2- Otherwise you draw a sketch, with your center of rotation, and the dimensions of the tops and cabinet. With a circle and 2 sketch lines and you have your max angle that you then transfer to your limit constraints. (see image)
I would also lean towards the movement function with collision detection, (there are several options if I'm not mistaken, stop on collision, highlight parts...)
Are your boards independent or are they always parallel?
If it's the second case, you have to put an angle constraint by limiting the values on a single platter and a parallel constraint between this platter and the others.
If this is the first case, I don't see any constraint that really allows us to model the case.
THE detection of colliosion and a tool that will allow you to find the maximum angles
but it is resource-intensive, once these angles have been found it is better to use the advanced angle constraints (which allows you to limit the rotation between these two angles)
Thanks to you, I am starting to see a little more clearly.
Pascal has put his finger on what is blocking. Indeed, the trays are always parallel, rods connecting them allow this to be done.
I think I have two solutions, which I can realize quickly:
1 - Collision detection. The general consensus is in favour of this solution, and so am I, since it is exactly what I want to simulate. Although PC resources are a luxury that I can't afford (Win XP 32 Bits, 2 GB Ram, 2.56 Ghz Dual Core).
2 - Constrain the rotation angles of the rods. I understand that limiting the angles in the mechanical stress pivot menu requires the specification of two surfaces that form the rotation angle.
Here is an illustration of the stems:
http://imageshack.com/a/img19/8392/0i9g.png
Can I use one surface of the rod, and another of the tray to set the boundaries?
@Gt22, I'm going to follow the tutorial, I already have to assimilate the behavior of the pivots from a geometric point of view.
@opie27, I want to understand more about the sketching trick. The assemblies I intend to create are simple mechanically but require you to know the rotation angles of each pivot. So my question is: After making the sketch, how do you measure the angle created by the construction lines? ( Should I use the measurement tool ) ?
On my image, I've replaced the angle value with text.
But by drawing a horizontal line and a line to the intersection of the circle and the cabinet, you just take the value of the corner dimension and then transfer it to your constraints.
If all the boards are connected, when you move 1 of them the others will follow.
So if you do the manipulation to have the maximum angles on the 2 directions of rotation, then you just have to put a limit angle constraint on 1 platter.
This will simulate your high and low plate interference movement.