Use this calculation to design and check pre-tensed bolted connections loaded with axial or tangential force. The purpose of the design calculation is to select an appropriate bolted connection after specifying the required working load. The strength calculation performs a check of bolted connection (for example, pressure in the thread and bolt stress during joint tightening and operation).
You can create and design bolted connections, and then enter them directly into the assembly.
Use the bolted connection generator to:
- Select and insert bolted connection with unlimited number of fasteners into assembly, selecting the fasteners from Content Center.
- Insert bolted connection using user components.
- Create only holes in your design, if needed.
- Insert bolted connections to patterned holes.
- Insert Bolted Connection into multiple sketched holes or centerpoints. Multiple sketched holes based on center points or center points must be part of the same sketch.
- Insert bolted connections into extruded and revolved cuts.
- Save bolted connection to templates library.
Use the Bolted Connection Generator perform following calculations:
- Bolt diameter design to perform the calculation based on entered parameters such as load, material properties, and other factors.
- Bolt number design to calculate correct number of bolts based on specifies load, geometric dimensions, and other factors
- Bolt material design to calculate and select material suitable for specified criteria.
- Strength check calculation of a bolt.
- Fatigue calculations based on selected type of load (fluctuated or repeated, for example).
- Fatigue calculations based on selected method (Modified Goodman Method or Gerber Parabolic Method, for example).
Bolted Connection Generator selects fasteners from Content Center.
Note: You must be connected to Content Center server and Content Center must be configured on your computers to insert components using Bolted Connection Generator.
When designing bolted connection, use 3D grips in the graphics window to modify fasteners dimensions to speed up your design.
Bolted Connection Generator opens in the last inserted valid setting. To open Bolted Connection Generator in default installation settings, hold the CTRL key while opening bolted connection generator.
Limitations of bolted connection generator
- Holes are drilled into parts, not into assembly holes. So, the bolted connection generator does not drill into holes created in the assembly environment, only into holes created in the part environment.
- Holes cannot be drilled into faces created by assembly features.
- You cannot insert a bolted connection into two instances of the same part using the bolted connection generator.
- You cannot edit a bolted connection component that is suppressed.
Why I cannot design and insert bolted connection using bolted connection generator
There are several reasons why you cannot design and insert a bolted connection using the generator:
- You are not connected to Content Center server and you do not have configured categories on your computer.
Solution: Connect to Content Center and click the Configure Content Center Libraries command to configure libraries.
- You are not connected to Content Center server and you do not have configured categories on your computer.
Solution: Connect to Content Center and click the Configure Content Center Libraries command to configure libraries.
- In the Design tab, you cannot specify bolted connection components because you did not specify the placement of bolted connection first.
Solution: Use the options in the left side of the Design tab and specify the bolted connection placement.
- An error message is displayed when you select a component. It means that the selected component does not have all parameters specified in Content Center.
Solution: Edit and correct the parameters of the component in Content Center.