Limit Mates in an assembly

I've made an assembly (mechanical actuator - jack screw) and added a minimum
and maximum limit mate to a component. I then inserted that assembly into
my overall assembly and mated a component to the top of the jack. I would
assume that I would be able to move the attached component up and down the
jack and have the part stop at the limits. However, it says that the parts
are fully defined, when the degrees of freedom should allow the part to be
raised and lowered within the limits of the jack.

Might anyone know why I cannot move my part up and down when I try to drag
it?

Thanks,

Relz

 

Is the jack screw sub-assy "flexible" ??

 

Hi Relz,

Did you change the properties of the subassembly to "Flexible"?

If not, right click on the subassembly from the feature manager and
pick the component properties. Select "Flexible" in the solve as
portion.

Jim

 

That was it! Thanks a lot guys.

Now the problem I am having is that on top of 2 of my jacks is a beam. The
tops of the jacks will be on the same plane and when I try to mate the top
of each jack with the beam, it says the mate on the second jack "is over
defining the assembly". I just want one of the jacks to "tag along" with
the other one. Any suggestions?

 

It sounds like you are maybe on SW2004, and it has the limitation of
allowing only one flexible assy per config of the sub. So, you need to
create another config of the jack and then set your second one to this
config and make it flexible also.

Another way to do this, is if you don't really need the ability to drag it
up & down, create 2 configs of the jack - up & down - and then create 2
configs of the upper assy - up & down. Flexible subs sometimes cause
flakiness, as in patterns in flexible subs don't always properly go along
for the ride.

WT

 

That's good advice Wayne. Especially if you don't need to move the
parts dynamically.

 

I am on Solidworks 2005. I brought in another jack assembly and I can work
them independently of each other. Maybe I'll just leave one jack in the
down position and use the other one to actually ride along with the upper
assy. I just can't understand why it won't allow both jacks to be tied
together by the upper assy.

Relz

 

I've found that limit mates on flexible subs can cause mate errors in
this type os situation, at least in 2004 haven't used 2005 in anger
yet.

Try creating a second configuration for you second jack and suppress
the limit mate.

AC

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