Solidworks Belt Path

Copyright April 2014 Brian Halicki
Solidworks Belt Path Tutorial

April 15, 2014 By: Brian Halicki
Sketching with Converted Entities Creates the Belt Path
In the design of a conveyor unit that is connected with two or more idler rolls, the conveyor belt we want is attached to these rolls. Commands in SolidWorks sketch can help us to create or install this belt. For the reason of this tutorial, I will be indicating to you how to create a 'New Part' Conveyor Belt on an assembly drawing, so if you would edit a diameter of rolls or adjust the position of rolls, the conveyor belt will automatically update the changes. The belt being used is Intralox Series 1100 that is 4 inches wide and .344 thick.
Intralox Belt Conveyor
Some steps to create a conveyor belt: Hide all parts except the rolls. Invert Selection. Selection of all rolls (dont forget to press 'Ctrl' on the keyboard) and then right click and choose Invert Selection.
Inverted Selection Shown
Selecting Hide
Hide Invert Selection. The above command will select all the parts in except the rolls. Then at the drawing view, right click and select hide. Then all the selected part will be hidden and visible only the rolls.
Creating a new Part in an Assembly Insert New Part. Choose Insert> Component> New Part. The show will appear at the bottom-left of the screen "Select the face or plane on which to position the new part". Then point the cursor on the Front Plane in the Feature Manager, left click. Well, now you are ready to make a sketch of the new part.
Convert Entities. Choose one of the roll and then click edge circle of roll. Click Convert Entities on the Feature toolbar. Dialog box Convert Entities will appear. Continue by selecting all edge of rolls. Finish by clicking OK. Open Part. Make it easier for the process of making a sketch, I suggest you to open a new part. Click part1 on the Feature Manager and selection box will appear. Choose Open Part. And now you're ready to make a sketch of the conveyor at a new part.
Copyright April 2014 Brian Halicki Creating a profile sketch on new part Edit Sketch. Now the new part has been opened and you are ready to make a sketch on the new part. In the Feature Manager select Sketch1 then click Edit on the sketch dialog box that appears.
Offset Convert Entities. We know that the belt thickness is .344 inches, the edge of roll has been converted and needs to be offset by .344 inches for 2 of the idler rollers. Choose the Offset Entities on the Sketch toolbar. In the dialog box enter the distance of .344 inches and check the 'Make base construction'.
Line. Connect the circles with one circle to another by selecting the Line Sketch toolbar. Considering this is a meeting between the lines with circles, then before you specify the start position and end position, first click on the Quick Snap Tangent Snaps toolbar or choose Tools> Relations> Quick Snaps > Tangent.
Trim Entities. Use this command to delete the profile of the sketch that didnt follow the belt path. In the dialog box choose the 'Trim to closest' then click the deleted entity. Exit Sketch.
Belt Forming. This is the final command to create the look of this belt. Extruded Surface. Use the Extrude Surface command on Surface toolbar. In the dialog box that appears under parameter Direction 1, write the width of 4 inches and the End condition set in the Mid Plane. Click OK.
Thicken. Create a solid feature by selecting one or more surfaces. On the Surface toolbar choose Thicken.
Then in the dialog box select the surface and enter the thickness at .344 inches and click Thicken Side 1. OK. The blue color is essentially a surface. Give the color with Edit Appearance command on View (Heads-Up) toolbar
Save the Conveyor Belt and close the file. The Assembly will automatically rebuild itself.
Halco Design is a leader in design and engineering technology with expertise in CAD and process optimization for
the manufacturing, engineering, design and industries. To obtain exclusive offers, important updates and special invitations to local workshops and online events, subscribe to Halco Design News at www.halcodesign.com - monthly e-newsletters that offer a wealth of manufacturing/mechanical, design automation information from Halco Designs applications engineers.
About the Author: Brian Halicki

About Brian Halicki Email Brian Halicki

Solidworks Belt Path

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Solidworks Belt Path

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Copyright April 2014 Brian Halicki