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12-Amethyst
February 7, 2023
Solved

3d contacts and curves

  • February 7, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 4236 views

I'm trying to create 3d contacts with curves, created with the spline tool in sketch/extrude. Is there other ways to create curves that work with 3d contacts? I'm using Creo 7.0, so would that be available in newer versions? is there a different way to get the same properties of the 3d contact tool? 

 

Any help is appreciated. 

 

 

Best answer by tbraxton

You should look at the other mechanism connection types. i.e. cam/follower or slot. Friction is supported by these other connection types. 

 

For 2D kinematic analysis/synthesis there are other specialized tools that will support a faster development cycle of the geometry.

1 reply

tbraxton
22-Sapphire II
22-Sapphire II
February 7, 2023

Short answer is no.

Valid 3D contact references are as follows:

spherical, cylindrical, or planar surface, or a vertex.

 

It may be possible to create a valid construction reference driven by a curve that would work but you would have to provide details of exactly what you need to do.

 

See reference info here current for Creo 9:

https://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_pma/r9.0/usascii/index.html#page/simulate/mech_des/about_3d_contact.html# 

12-Amethyst
February 7, 2023

I'm creating a sliding latch mechanism, you slide it forward and back and it locks in place; forward again and it comes unlatched.
It requires curves to minimise friction, and I need to use 3d contacts to get close to a final product that would work with my manufacturing materials in real life. I can do it without curves, but it would entail using a lot of ellipses and circles, which will not have the same ease of adjustment nor will it be an efficient system.
 

edit: oops, can't even use ellipses, I guess I'm going to be learning fusion360  

 

the PNG below is the general/crude idea of the mechanism. 

tbraxton
22-Sapphire II
tbraxton22-Sapphire IIAnswer
22-Sapphire II
February 7, 2023

You should look at the other mechanism connection types. i.e. cam/follower or slot. Friction is supported by these other connection types. 

 

For 2D kinematic analysis/synthesis there are other specialized tools that will support a faster development cycle of the geometry.