Modeling a twisted timing belt

Help.....I'm trying to model a timing belt with a 90 degree twist in it.
The pulleys are rotated 90 degrees from each other. Just a
rectangular profile without teeth. Any help or a sample would be
greatly appreciated.

 

I think I would do the non-twisted belt section with a simple planar sweep
or even extrude, and then do the twists using loft features. It's probably
pointlessly difficult to try to do the whole thing in one go.

matt

 

No teeth. Smooth surfaces only.

Dave H

 

I would say create it with a sweep. Create 2 sketches for each flat end.
one for the contour and one for the guide curve. Then make 4 3d sketches
make a spline between the each end of each set of flat sketches make the
spline tangent to the flat sketches at either end. the splines need only to
have 2 points. Then make composit curves so you end up with two contours.
Make your profile sketch with a centerline that you are going to constrain
to your profiles constrain one end completely to your path and the other
only make the line coincident to the other path. this way if you have any
variable width between your two paths your profile will not change size to
suit. I'll try to make an example.


Corey

 

Thanks Guys,

I went the loft route. I'd like to see corey's example using sweeps if
he gets it done. I tried using sweeps first but didn't succeed.

Dave H

 

Ok it was a little trickier than I had anticipated but I think I got it.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?J317451B9


Corey Scheich

 

It doesn't seem that that works quit right try this

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solidworks/files/

You will see the file
This is yahoo so if you have an account you can sign in and see the file if
you don't it is free to join. I would post it elsewhere but I don't have
the means to do it.

Corey

 

I'm a little late to reply, but I made an example of this a year or
two ago. I can't remember if I used a loft or a sweep I wonder if
it still works, I think it was modeled in 2001+:
http://students.washington.edu/dennyt/solidworks/Twisted_Belt.zip

-Denny Trimble

 

Dennis,

It still works and is yet another method to get the job done. I was
looking for a timing belt instead of a vee belt but thats just a profile
change. I've learned new things the last couple of days and that's a
good thing.

Thanks,
Dave H

 

Thanks Corey,

They both worked for me. I was looking for a timing belt instead of a
vee belt but that only requires a profile change. I learned new stuff
this week....a good thing.

Dave H