stent design

What is the best way to create a balloon expandable stent using solidworks?
I have already created a 2-d extrusion of my stent pattern and want to know
if there is a way to modify it into a cylinderical part that i can then
expand and contract (using the parametric abilities of solidworks) or if I
need to start over?

 

You might try "SolidSketch" by DynaBits:

http://www.dynabits.com/plus/solidsketch/gallery/pipe.htm

...

 

Out of the box, I'm thinking a sketch with an axis and a spline. Constrain
the spline points to represent the balloon at rest. Revolve the spline to
create a thin surface (with thickness). Create a second configuration to
represent the expanded balloon. Go back into the sketch and change the
dimensions to make the balloon look expanded, assigning any dimension that
changed to the expanded configuration. Look at the help files if necessary
for how to assign dimension values to a specific config.

Rebuild and try each config. One should show the balloon at rest and the
other should show it expanded. Note that SW has no inherent knowledge of
material deformation so the way you make each configuration appear is
completely up to you (more control points and more dimensions can yield some
pretty wacky shapes). Good luck!

I made a simple tubular sample in SW2003:

http://solidlogicdesign.com/samples/Spline_Balloon.SLDPRT

- Eddy

 

I've created the final cylindrical shape from the 2D extrusion by using
Sheetmetal. It won't bend a full 360 degrees but you can make each 180
degree half as a separate body and then join them.

JJ

 

JJ, could you please elaborate what command you would use under sheetmetal?

 

Just the 'create bend' command. I will see if I can dig up some details or
examples and reply to you offline.

JJ

 

He's talking about using this type of approach. (and, it's limited)

http://www.zxys.com/swparts/stent.zip

Personally, DynaBits SolidSketch provides the flexibility needed for
making stents and a lot more!

I've consulted for a few companies who have made stents and SolidSketch
would pay for itself easily and beyond!

... (btw, I don't work for DynaBits)

 

Seconded. I bought a seat of SolidSketch a couple of months ago to lay
out variable helical grooves in a series of barrel cams for a zoom
optical system. Solid Sketch paid for itself in one morning!

Art W