Tube Frame in solid works

[ArpHole]

Hello,

*I just recently got my hands on a copy of solid works and I am slowly trying to learn it. *I have a bit of cad experience mostly ProE and am finding solid works pretty easy thus far. *My experience lies on mainly in modeling rotating machinery(at work) and i have never done any tube structures. *In fact I haven't really even modeled a line with a complex run. *What are some of the best practices when constructing say... a mini buggy frame in solid works.

Should I sketch each tube one and a time and run sweeps?
Should I make each tube as a separate part and assemble the structure(Haven't tried any assembly's yet)
Is it a good idea to use the weldment/structural member tools (I messed around with that a little seems like the way to go, are there pitfalls to this?)

I know that there are many ways to go about this stuff and I am just looking for just some general input based on your experiences modeling tube structures in solid works. *

Thanks for you input

[minibajaman]

Welcome to MBN!

I have drawn many tube frames in SolidWorks. *By far the easiest way to do it is using the Weldments/Structural Member feature. *I make a new part, sketch out the whole frame using a combination of 2d and 3d sketches, then use the structural member feature to create the tubes. *The only downside is the end junctions will not be correctly fishmouthed or anything, but you can still get all the measurements needed to make the tubes. *If you wanted it to be really precise, you could make each tube a separate part (by using Structural Members to get the tube and then cut the ends correctly) and assemble them together, but that would be a lot more work.

[amergin]

Not the mention the assembly would be huge when complete. Lots of memory overhead.

Originally Posted by minibajaman\";p=\&quot

Welcome to MBN!
*If you wanted it to be really precise, you could make each tube a separate part (by using Structural Members to get the tube and then cut the ends correctly) and assemble them together, but that would be a lot more work.

[Jay1823]

You wanna share that copy of Solid Works ? *

[minibajaman]

Originally Posted by Jay1823\";p=\&quot

You wanna share that copy of Solid Works ? *

Have you ever used torrents to download stuff? *You can get it pretty easily that way. *Not that I would know or anything .

[Jay1823]

Ya know what i tried to do the torrent thing recently but i was getting confused as hell. Some stuff about post forwarding and static ip address's. I don't want to jack my computer up trying to do all thsi stuff and not be able to put it back. I was gonna try it on my laptop but it's being an a-hole and not wanting to connect to the internet, that and it would literally take a week to download somethign of that size. I just want an easy way to steal my software *

[hero_saku39]

me too. *I was able to find several solid works files but none of them would install. Maybe cause of Vista? *Crap!

[hodala]

I draw almost every part of a buggy except standard parts,then do assembly just like a real work,Of course it takes a lot of time;for mass production,it worth.to do such kind of job,you have to accumulate drawing experiences for many years,obiously not fit for your DIY job
Attached drawing took 2 weeks design,and some parts(engine,human,tyres ---)are already in my databank as drawn before

[K-fab]

Wonderful work Hodala. *

[hodala]

You are so kind , K-fab
I'm glad to find MBN, a site not commercial minded. people show their toys and share their experiences just for hobbies,seems impossible to a design desert and serious fortune chasing region where I live and work.
Nearly 2 decades ago,first time I saw mini buggy pictures in a ATV magazine, coincident to my young dream
If not busy,I'd like to share and exchange knowhow in drawing and building if anybody interested in