Solidworks Help Required

[David]

Hey, Im really after someone who knows a lot about solidworks (2004). I have designed a frame in bikecad but I would really like to model it in solidworks (for several reasons) Basically I am having trouble where to start? Should I make each tube seperate and put it into an assembly? Also how would I mitre each tube and add welds? (Welds dont need to be accurate, mainly to represent)

Thanks,

Dave

[Mr Motivator]

Does BikeCAD save as a .dwg, .dwt, or .dxf? Been a long time since I used BikeCAD.

Have you actually got it in SolidWorks yet?

[OD404]

You could model each tube separately then assemble them, or you could do the lot in one model. It really all depends on what you are creating the model for. If you are just doing it for the sake of having a 3d representation on the screen then either way would be fine, but if you intend to build the design then I would model each tube separately.

Building the model as one would be pretty easy, just a case of merging the tubes as you create them so no need for mitres, though the inside geometry of the joins may not be representative (hence why it's only good if you just want to view the model).

When creating an assembly, you can model each tube roughly (length, diameter, wall thickness etc), then bring them into the assembly and create the mitres in there as Solidworks will allow you to create features on a part based on other parts in an assembly (i.e you can use the headtube geometry to create the mitre on the downtube). The only drawback of doing that is that you would have to position each tube in the assembly using coordinates as opposed to mating them with each other.

As for welds, when I've done parts that require welding, I have found that it is better to just place the appropriate weld symbols on the drawing as the tools to model them were never very good. Nevertheless if you just want a visual representation Solidworks will have a tool to model the welds (check its help files, in my experience they have been quite helpful).

I hope this has answered your questions.

[David]

You could model each tube separately then assemble them, or you could do the lot in one model. It really all depends on what you are creating the model for. If you are just doing it for the sake of having a 3d representation on the screen then either way would be fine, but if you intend to build the design then I would model each tube separately.

Building the model as one would be pretty easy, just a case of merging the tubes as you create them so no need for mitres, though the inside geometry of the joins may not be representative (hence why it's only good if you just want to view the model).

When creating an assembly, you can model each tube roughly (length, diameter, wall thickness etc), then bring them into the assembly and create the mitres in there as Solidworks will allow you to create features on a part based on other parts in an assembly (i.e you can use the headtube geometry to create the mitre on the downtube). The only drawback of doing that is that you would have to position each tube in the assembly using coordinates as opposed to mating them with each other.

As for welds, when I've done parts that require welding, I have found that it is better to just place the appropriate weld symbols on the drawing as the tools to model them were never very good. Nevertheless if you just want a visual representation Solidworks will have a tool to model the welds (check its help files, in my experience they have been quite helpful).

I hope this has answered your questions.

Thanks for your help This may sound stupid but when ive tried making the model as one, I cant seem to merge the tubes at angles The way im doing it is say creating the BB shell on the right plane then selecting top plane for the seat tube but then when I want to attach the seatstays I dont know how to get them going at an angle?

Thanks,

Dave

[OD404]

Use a swept protrusion, you can make the trajectory of the sweep using a 3d sketched spline. Or if they are straight stays, make a new datum plane at the angle you want the tube to be.

[Walleee]

Yeh, I was gonna say you'll be using planes a good bit for this. They are up the right hand side of the features toolbar, under referance>Plane, then you select how you want to place it within the drawing.