Insert sliding joints

After you create an assembly and add one or more standard joints , you can insert other (rolling, sliding, 2D contact, and force) joints between two components that have one or more degrees of freedom between them. You must insert these joints manually; unlike standard joints, other joints cannot be automatically created by constraint conversion . All of the joints in these categories constrain one or more of the degrees of freedom created by standard joints.

Sliding joints, like rolling joints, can close kinematic loops and work between components that have a 2D motion relative to one another. You can create sliding joints only between two components that have a 2D motion relative to one another. The software positions the joint coordinate systems at the contact point. The joint motion is in the plane defined by the vectors Z 1 (normal) and X 1 (tangent). The contact plane is defined by the vectors Z 1 and Y 1 . These joints apply a permanent contact constraint and there are no tangential loads.

Preliminary steps

The construction of these joints is like the construction of the rolling joints.

  1. Open an assembly.

    Tips included in Prepare assemblies for dynamic simulation tell how you can model an assembly for easy dynamic simulation .

  2. On the ribbon, click Environments tab Begin panel Dynamic Simulation .
  3. On the ribbon, click Dynamic Simulation tab Joint panel Insert Joint .
  4. On the Insert Joint dialog box, either click the down arrow in the joint type box or click the Display joints table icon to select the joint type.

The rest of the steps vary according to the type of sliding joint you are adding. Click the joint type below to see the steps to insert that particular joint type.

Sliding: Cylinder on Plane

  1. On either the joint type menu or the joints table, select Sliding: Cylinder on Plane.
  2. In the graphics window, specify the joint coordinate system of the component containing the plane.

    The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.

    The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.

    • Specify the X-Z plane by selecting either the plane or the Z axis of the joint coordinate system.
      Tip: If you have trouble picking a geometric entity, click and then select the component in the graphics window. This function makes it easier to select an entity in the component.

      While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.

      If you select the plane, you can skip the next entity. If you select the Z axis, you must also select the new two entities.

    • Select the origin of the joint coordinate system.

      The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which the plane is linked to the cylinder.

    • If you select the plane as entity one, select the Z axis to define the normal to the plane. If you select the Z axis as entity one, select the X axis to define the plane.
  3. Specify the joint coordinate system of the component containing the cylinder.
    • Select the cylinder.
    • Select the origin of the joint coordinate system.
  4. If necessary, in the Insert Joint dialog box, click either Switch X or Switch Z to flip the direction of either an X axis or a Z axis.
  5. Click OK.

Sliding: Cylinder on Cylinder

For this joint, you must have a cylinder on the first component and a curve (part of a cylinder or disc on the second component.

  1. On either the joint type menu or the joints table, select Sliding: Cylinder on Cylinder.
  2. In the graphics window, specify the joint coordinate system for the component containing the first cylinder.

    The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.

    The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.

    • Select the first cylinder.
      Tip: If you have trouble picking a geometric entity, click and then select the component in the graphics window. This function makes it easier to select an entity in the component.
    • Select the origin of the joint coordinate system.

      The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.

    • Select the X axis.
  3. Repeat step 2 for the component containing the second cylinder.
  4. If necessary, in the Insert Joint dialog box, click Switch Z to flip the direction of a Z axis or Switch X to flip the direction of an X axis.
  5. Click OK.

Sliding: Cylinder in Cylinder

For this joint, you must have a cylinder on the first component and a curve (part of a cylinder or disc) on the second component.

  1. On either the joint type menu or the joints table, select Sliding: Cylinder in Cylinder.
  2. In the graphics window, specify the joint coordinate system of the component containing the outer cylinder.

    The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.

    The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.

    • Select the outer cylinder.
      Tip: If you have trouble picking a geometric entity, click and then select the component in the graphics window. This function makes it easier to select an entity in the component.

      While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.

    • Select the origin of the joint coordinate system.

      The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.

    • Select the X axis.
  3. Repeat step 2 for the component containing the inner cylinder.
  4. If necessary, in the Insert Joint dialog box, click Switch Z to flip the direction of a Z axis or Switch X to flip the direction of an X axis.
  5. Click OK.

Sliding: Cylinder Curve

  1. On either the joint type menu or the joints table, select Sliding: Cylinder Curve.
  2. In the graphics window, specify the joint coordinate system of the component containing the curve.

    The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.

    The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.

    • Select the curved face, an edge, or a closed loop on a sketch.
      Tip: If you have trouble picking a geometric entity, click and then select the component in the graphics window. This function makes it easier to select an entity in the component.

      While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the curve, it is good practice to specify the curve as precisely as possible.

    • Select the edge of the curve.
  3. Specify the joint coordinate system of the component containing the cylinder.
    • Select the cylinder.
    • Select the origin of the joint coordinate system.
  4. Click OK.

Sliding: Point Curve

  1. On either the joint type menu or the joints table, select Sliding: Point Curve.
  2. In the graphics window, specify the joint coordinate system of the component containing the curve.

    The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.

    The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.

    • Select the loop.
      Tip: If you have trouble picking a geometric entity, click and then select the component in the graphics window. This function makes it easier to select an entity in the component.

      While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the curve, it is good practice to specify the curve as precisely as possible.

    • Select the edge of the curve.
  3. Select the point.
  4. Click OK.

Show Me how to create a sliding cylinder joint

Parent topic: Insert joints manually