how to make these parts interact with each other in assembly

alan_scott

im looking for help as to how i can get parts in an assembly to interact with each other, im designing a lock. 

philip_thomas

@alan_scott - the mate relation will create a very linear motion. The actual motion is non-linear - the most accurate simulation is one that would be made with tangent mates. Again - outside of a kinematic tool, Onshape does not support intermittent contacts.

philip_thomas

@alan_scott - thank you for posting.

The good news is that the Onshape high level mates and mate relations can define some very complex mechanisms (there are many radial engines for instance in the public documents). That means that for complex lock mechanisms, you will absolutely be able to simulate them.

What we dont have out-of-box is intermittent contacts. This capability is often associated with a kinematic solution. In the App Store for instance, there are several partners that are likely to perform this type of analysis.



Sometimes, a very easy workaround is to have several sets of mates (one set active, more or more sets suppressed), to simulate the motion of each component at various stages of the mechanisms operation. That way, the changing contacts are represented by different sets of mates.

I hope this helps you.

Paul_J_Premakumar

If you aren't familiar with assembly mates, here is a starting tutorial : https://www.onshape.com/videos/assembly-mates .

alan_scott

what mate would be used in the picture above to make the bit that turns in the key hole to move the bolt like when you would open the lock with a key ? 

philip_thomas

@alan_scott - you would have a revolute on the key and a slider on the bolt.
The last step is a rack_and _pinion mate relation to connect the two.



To read about Onshape mate relations, google "Onshape relations' and click on the top result

alan_scott

excellent im making progress !! i already had the revolute and slider, its just now that rather than the bolt move when the revolute part makes contact with the bolt it turns simultaneous ! ill check out onshape relations as you suggested.

philip_thomas

@alan_scott - the mate relation will create a very linear motion. The actual motion is non-linear - the most accurate simulation is one that would be made with tangent mates. Again - outside of a kinematic tool, Onshape does not support intermittent contacts.

alan_scott

thanks for your help ive wrote all of this down and will will look into it !