Grapple CAD build with geometry calculations.

[GE222]

Brad,
Outstanding job!

Especially with the photo documentation.

I have been using AutoCAD for over 20 years, although since I do electrical drawings, I never had much exposure to 3D drawings. I don't know anyone using Inventer. All of the mechanical engineers that I work with, are using SolidWorks. I would like to take a class, but the opportunity has never come up.

Again, excellent job!

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Thanks GE,

I'm really happy with the way the grapple turned out.

The work flow using Inventor is a lot different than AutoCad but even AutoCad 2010 has the new interface and updated features like a parametric mode where you edit the dimension or constrain a feature and it forces the drawing to that shape.

The biggest advantage of 3D is that you only draw the part once for all views. Also an increasing amount of my work is being accomplished by sending the part file right to the CNC operator for tool path generation. A lot of shapes I deal with are really difficult and/or complicated to dimension but that whole step can be bypassed of the operator can use the file directly. (at least until the final drawings have to be filed) For the grapple cutouts Larry was able to generate the tool path directly from 2-D dxf files. 3-D machines need the 3-D part files.

In Inventor, you start by generating a part file. You make a 2-D sketch and extrude, sweep, loft, etc. either adding or cutting material to make the 3-D part. You can generate work planes wherever you need to orient sketches for subsequent operations. 3-D sketch generation is also available.

Parts can be combined and constrained to each other in assembly files. Inventor includes a content center with part files for standard nuts and bolts and structural elements, etc. Mcmaster-Carr and manufacturer web sites also offer 3-D parts as SAT or STEP files that can be imported. Once the 3-D part or assembly is made you can generate a 2-D drawing file and insert views of parts and dimension them.


I have no experience with Solidworks or Pro E. My division selected Inventor so that's what I work with. At least this latest version has addressed most of my aggravations with previous versions.

Brad

 

[rdln]

nice work, my brother has been talking about building his own x-y plasma bed, seeing what he has done lately, I think he can do it!

Did this for a member a while ago.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/94277-grapple-design-6.html

 

[jmc]

I used trial and error to set the tool to 1.5",

Brad,

I've had some luck setting a fly cutter or boring bar to a specific diameter by putting it in a lathe and using an indicator. Say you have a flycutter body with a 3/4 inch shank and you want to bore a 2 inch hole- Put an indicator in the tool post and zero it on the shank (radially). Then back out the cross slide 5/8 inch and adjust the bit to read zero on the indicator. It just takes a few seconds to find the high point. (I hope someone doesn't try this with the lathe turned on!)

Nice project. Nice documentation.

John