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Chain

wayne_sauderwayne_sauder Member, csevp Posts: 472 PRO
I know the subject of chains has been discussed in-depth on the forum and I think I hunted up all the posts related to it. I am wondering if anyone could give me any ideas on ways to simplify this to get better performance? https://cad.onshape.com/documents/b289e23ee832231bdd4a4708/w/7f41f4cdb4df01f33d333bee/e/4be86dd71f7768dd214c69d8  

Comments

  • alnisalnis Member, Developers Posts: 447 EDU
    The best performing moving chain method I've found so far is @NeilCooke's method in this thread, but I'm guessing you've probably already seen it. One difference between his method and yours is that there's a surface instead of a solid with a single face instead of multiple, but I'm not sure if this is why it performs well. Unfortunately, there isn't really a good way to make chains move in Onshape at the moment. Here are the methods I know of for making static models of chains in Onshape:
    • Curve pattern in a part studio and make a composite part. This is easiest to make, but it's not accurate in the BOM for the number of chain links, can have lower performance (since you have a bunch of individual parts in a trench coat masquerading as one part), and the chain links don't quite have lined up pins because of where the curve pattern instances the parts.
    • Use linear and circular patterns to precisely pattern the chain links around and between sprockets, using one last fastened mate at each sprocket to make sure the links go off in the correct direction to the next sprocket. This is a lot more work than the curve pattern, but the result has an accurate BOM, the assembly may load slightly faster, and you'll know exactly how many turns to tighten your tensioner before you put the whole thing together.
    • Model it as a single solid that looks like a narrow and thick belt. This doesn't give any visual accuracy, but it's good enough for checking for appropriate clearances, is very easy to do, and is generally good enough from a functionality standpoint.
    For changing the position of the chain, I use configurations for all three methods (either driving changes in the pattern/extrude sketch or in the number of pattern instances in various places). Hopefully, there will be a chain pattern like there is in SolidWorks at some point!

    Hope this helps!
    Student at University of Washington | Get in touch: contact@alnis.dev | My personal site: https://alnis.dev | Currently an Onshape intern: asmidchens@onshape.com
  • steve_shubinsteve_shubin Member Posts: 1,066 ✭✭✭✭
    @wayne_sauder

    If you’re at all interested in simulating chain movement — and I want to emphasize simulate — because there was some optical illusion going on (I believe that’s what John called it), then you need to see what John McClary did.

    Unfortunately I’m not good at searching for past posts and I have no idea where to look

    @john_mcclary  —  HELP !  Where is that post


  • wayne_sauderwayne_sauder Member, csevp Posts: 472 PRO
    I tried working with a surface for a while, was not able to tell that that made much difference. I would like to simulate it to show the client and what John McClary did does not work for this project because the links for an attachment are only on one side and the chain never travels a full revolution, that is a neat trick though. I'll probably have a show and tell with a static chain.    
  • john_mcclaryjohn_mcclary Member, Developers Posts: 3,890 PRO
    edited November 2020
    Yea, every attempt at a full rotation of linked chain always ended up binding at some point. 

    I'm sure if I had more patience it could be done. But I did the animation illusion instead of an actual chain animation for performance reasons.

    If you need to animate other things along side that then you need to use reference parts and relations like I did with the rubiks cube example. 

    If you do that then you should be able to simulate the chain simultaneously with your sprockets and packages.. But Onshape is not built for complex animation. So you would be better off exporting to another system with a more sophisticated animation tool, like solidworks or possibly fusion?? Not sure really, I only ever animated models with solidworks before.

    Maybe one day Onshape will have better built-in animation tools
  • russell_gilillandrussell_gililland Member Posts: 4
    Voting up to see onshape tackle animation solutions in 2023. Chains etc.
  • MichaelPascoeMichaelPascoe Member Posts: 1,694 PRO
    edited January 2023

    @russell_gililland, that would be awesome. 
    While we wait, here is a hybrid solution of real links + the animation illusion.

    For the animation to work:
    • The chain needs to travel at least one link
    • Set the animation to loop
    • Set the animation start and stop to line up with your sprocket ratio
    • Set the speed to be fast (around 7 steps or so) to make it appear seamless. For this to really be seamless you would need to use a tangent path guide, however I wanted to stick with actual links for this studio
    https://cad.onshape.com/documents/713f282c6a0c9a8e90b0ac19/w/f72fa6bbdf5cfa0f320837b5/e/472428fc9d95e354784d8a24?renderMode=0&uiState=63b44df015b392361559d1f6




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  • john_mcclaryjohn_mcclary Member, Developers Posts: 3,890 PRO
    yeah, that's pretty much the trick I used too

    It's ok if you just want to show the chain move, but if there are other actions, then that trick becomes obsolete 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMy4j_LYuYo
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