Dynamic block stretch in a curved belt

[erikcap]

I am building a symbol library. One of the symbols are belt conveyors. Those belt conveyors need to be stretched in lengths, but also in widths. From the visibility list you can choose if it is straight, 45, 90, or 180 degree belt. And only the curved belts are the problem to stretch in widths

 

I want for example the attached 45 degree belt to stretch in width, but the center line needs to be the same length. I cant get this working.

 

Anyone a solution?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Erik Cap.

S2200.dwg

[GE13579]

For the straight sections this can be done by chaining the stretch- I posted some examples a while back here.

 

I don't know of a way other than to use visibility states for the bend, but then I suppose if you're using visibility states on the bend you might as well use them for the entire thing.

 

I would just create separate vis. states for 650mm, 800mm, 1000mm... etc

[erikcap]

Thank you for the reply.

 

Yeay, the different vis states for the different belt widths is plan B.

But let me first try to view your examples.

 

Erik

[GE13579]

You're welcome- I hope it helps.

 

Looking at your block you have a few too many actions which are not necessary- I think it will be easier to remove all the actions and parameters and simplify it.

 

Not really relevant to the question, but what kind of conveyors are you designing? I have a lot of involvement with troughed belt conveyors and when showing on a GA I would just run the centre line then offset whatever is necessary for the conveyor. Saying that, I don't have any experience with horizontal curves only vertical curves.

[erikcap]

I'm not designing conveyors. I design poultry processing plants (on layout level, not on machine level). So, for the logistics I need conveyors, to discharge packet meat. To simplify symbol insertion, I redesigning the old library system, with dynamic blocks, but I'm running into a lot of little problems.

 

1 of them is to make the Intralox S2200 belt in 1 symbol. And with the vis state choose straight, 45, 90 or 180 degree belt, and with the actions, stretch them al kind of ways to get different belt lengths and widths.

[GE13579]

Ok I think the following is part of what you're after- You needed a move action on everything that should remain on the centre line with a distance multiplier of 0.5. My initial response perhaps wasn't needed in this instance.

 

Is this what you're trying to do?

S2200[1].dwg

[GE13579]

You will not be able to apply the same method to a curve unfortunately, as an arc does not act in the same way as a circle- however in writing this I've just had a thought, perhaps the arc will work with a scale action- I'll try to find time to check it out.

[GE13579]

Further to the above, the 45° stretch and move included- just nothing on the bend as yet.

S2200[2].dwg

[GE13579]

Ok the best I can manage at the moment is attached, unfortunately the arc'd lines need to be stretched individually and manually snapped to the horizontal lines.

S2200[3].dwg

[GE13579]

Ok I'm still looking at the scaling option but have thought- will you be designing to a CL radius or internal radius on the bend? If the former I'll have to look at chaining. Need a response before I can do much more.

 

I don't know much about these kind of conveyors but would have thought there are possibly too many variables (will the minimum CL radius need to increase based on the width of the conveyor?)?

 

In the meantime I'll post up a chained version of the horizontal section.

 

EDIT: Chained example attached.

S2200[4].dwg

[GE13579]

Ok a simplified version but still not quite right (based on minimum internal radius)- Dave Broada can you offer any suggestions?

S2200[3].dwg

[kindy52]

I think I figured it out.

 

Add a linear parameter to each of the arcs stretching vertically to the arc from the center of the radius.

 

Turn the chain action in the properties to "on" for these parameters.

 

Add a scale action to each parameter for each arc.

 

Add a stretch actions to the original linear parmeter selecting one of these parameters for each.

 

I didn't add the increments. I think you have that figured out.

 

Hope this helps. Now, can anyone give me info on these lookup tables or a good refence to info on them?

S2200[5].dwg

[erikcap]

Thank you very much, this is what I am looking for!

 

I am going to combine this with stretching the straight lengths of the bend.

 

Thanks!

[GE13579]

Nicely done kindy52- I'll have to have a look at where I was going wrong

 

What do you mean about look up tables? Have you started a new thread for it?

[kindy52]

I really enjoy building dynamic blocks. Unfortunately, it is only a small part of my job. I wish I could build them for a living. It's like a puzzle to me. I wish there was enough interest to create an entire thread dedicated to this subject.

 

Anyway, to my understanding, lookup tables are parameters in which the user can enter values which trigger other parameters to alter the geometry. I even read somewhere in here where someone used a lookup table to create multiple visibility parameters in one block.

 

I really haven't taken the time to learn how to construct one yet. Hopefully, I will soon.

[GE13579]

Although I've not really needed to lok into them before, I have an Autodesk DB introduction which I found on the web. It describes Lookups (parameter) as;

 

Defines preset values that you specify. You then create labels for each value. When yo edit the block in the drawing, choose one of the labels from the list to modify the block according to the values.

 

It continues tyo describe the action as;

 

Sets values according to a table that you specify (using the Reverse Lookup feature). When editing, you choose one of the values from a drop-down list.

 

Another good source of info on it is here.

[kindy52]

Great info! I can't wait to find time to look into these!

[jyotsnachavan]

HI,

I have two lines vertically inline. From that I want to array bottom line and that time upper line should be move with these no. of arrays.

 

can anyone help me?

 

Here is attachment also.