Add compression springs and other elements

00:09

In this exercise, we will be reviewing the Compression Spring Component Generator as well as a few of the Other Design Accelerators.

00:19

So for this exercise, we'll be working with the Belt-Driven reducer assembly shown here.

00:25

We will be adding in a compression spring between the head of the washer here along this shaft.

00:33

So in order to design a compression spring, you'll go to the "Spring" panel.

00:36

And you'll notice there are four different spring component generators. There's Compression, Extension, Belleville, and Torsion.

00:44

In this case, we're designing a Compression Spring. So I will open up that Component Generator.

00:50

Now, in the Component Generator, there are a lot of inputs.

00:53

What I recommend doing is typing in the inputs or the assembly parameters that are required or known,

01:01

and then using the calculator to generate the remainder and create a suitable spring.

01:07

So in this case, what I'm going to start by doing is typing in parameters that are known.

01:12

In this case, I know that the shaft diameter is 1 inch. So I want my spring to be slightly larger than that.

01:19

So my inner diameter, for my spring, I'm going to type in for this D2 value, "1.1".

01:28

What I'm also going to do is go to the "Calculation" tab now.

01:33

And I'm going to change the type of calculation being done from a check to a compression spring design.

01:41

This will allow me to actually create these additional parameters using the tool.

01:47

Once that's been activated, I'm then going to make sure right here for my design type that I choose the third option,

01:56

which allows me to input in my inside diameter as well as my minimum load length, as well as my max load.

02:06

And that will be used to design the remaining parameters of the spring.

02:12

So what I'll do is type in my max load which is going to be 300 lbf.

02:18

My working load, which is going to be 175 lbf inside diameter has been populated already.

02:28

For my spring material, I'll check the box up top here and I will choose oil-tempered steel wire and select, "Ok".

02:35

So I'll update my material. Then down at the bottom here for minimum load length.

02:41

In order to fit into the space between the washer and the housing, I need to use a minimum load length of 1.5 inches.

02:53

And now I can go ahead and click "Calculate" and it will determine how many coils are required, the wire diameter,

03:01

as well as what the minimum load will be in this scenario.

03:04

So I'll go ahead and select "Calculate".

03:07

And notice it updated all the values, for minimum load diameter, loose spring length, as well as the max load length.

03:17

And now I can go back to the design tab, and I can place my spring where I need it.

03:22

So right here for placement,

03:23

I'll choose axis and I will select this cylindrical face of the shaft right there.

03:33

And then for my Starting Plane, I'm going to choose this face of the gear. It places the spring.

03:39

And you'll notice it has the correct inner diameter, two active coils,

03:46

and then a 0.244 inch wire diameter, that all looks good.

03:50

So I'll go ahead and select, "Ok".

03:53

This will create a compression spring in my current folder. So I'll go ahead and place it.

04:01

So the Compression Spring is placed along that shaft where I specified, and you can see it's been designed as needed.

04:09

You'll notice it shows up at the bottom of my browser on the left hand side is compress spring.

04:14

If I need to make a change to any of the parameters, I can right-click on it and go to "Edit using Design Accelerator",

04:20

just like the other tools, it opens it back up, and I can make changes to the calculation, or any of the dimensions that I've chosen.

04:33

There are many other component generators as well as calculators available with Autodesk Inventor Professional 2024.

04:41

You'll notice on the "Design" tab, we've already discussed fasten frame and compression spring.

04:48

There's also this Power Transmission panel.

04:51

You'll notice on here, there's design component generators for Shafts, Gears, Bearings, Cams, et cetera.

04:60

If you hit the drop down menu, you'll also notice there's more in here, such as Drum Brake Calculators, Power Screw Calculators.

05:08

And if you select the "Handbook" here, it will open up the engineer's handbook.

05:13

Now, this will open up the Autodesk page in the Help manual that discusses the handbook.

05:20

This is where you can find a full list of the assembly component generators, as well as calculators available with Inventor.

05:26

So if I click on "Assembly Component Generators", it gives me this list.

05:30

If I would like to learn more about creating a bearing component, I can click on that Generator and opens up that page in the Help manual.

05:39

Now, from here, you can break down the different topics.

05:42

For instance, if I want to learn how to design a bearing, I can select on that there.

05:47

And it opens up a menu that discusses the workflow for designing bearings as well as calculating bearings.

05:56

On the left hand side here, you'll also see a list of all the different component generators that you can expand,

06:02

and dig through to determine how to design as well as how to use the different calculators for each component.

Video transcript

00:09

In this exercise, we will be reviewing the Compression Spring Component Generator as well as a few of the Other Design Accelerators.

00:19

So for this exercise, we'll be working with the Belt-Driven reducer assembly shown here.

00:25

We will be adding in a compression spring between the head of the washer here along this shaft.

00:33

So in order to design a compression spring, you'll go to the "Spring" panel.

00:36

And you'll notice there are four different spring component generators. There's Compression, Extension, Belleville, and Torsion.

00:44

In this case, we're designing a Compression Spring. So I will open up that Component Generator.

00:50

Now, in the Component Generator, there are a lot of inputs.

00:53

What I recommend doing is typing in the inputs or the assembly parameters that are required or known,

01:01

and then using the calculator to generate the remainder and create a suitable spring.

01:07

So in this case, what I'm going to start by doing is typing in parameters that are known.

01:12

In this case, I know that the shaft diameter is 1 inch. So I want my spring to be slightly larger than that.

01:19

So my inner diameter, for my spring, I'm going to type in for this D2 value, "1.1".

01:28

What I'm also going to do is go to the "Calculation" tab now.

01:33

And I'm going to change the type of calculation being done from a check to a compression spring design.

01:41

This will allow me to actually create these additional parameters using the tool.

01:47

Once that's been activated, I'm then going to make sure right here for my design type that I choose the third option,

01:56

which allows me to input in my inside diameter as well as my minimum load length, as well as my max load.

02:06

And that will be used to design the remaining parameters of the spring.

02:12

So what I'll do is type in my max load which is going to be 300 lbf.

02:18

My working load, which is going to be 175 lbf inside diameter has been populated already.

02:28

For my spring material, I'll check the box up top here and I will choose oil-tempered steel wire and select, "Ok".

02:35

So I'll update my material. Then down at the bottom here for minimum load length.

02:41

In order to fit into the space between the washer and the housing, I need to use a minimum load length of 1.5 inches.

02:53

And now I can go ahead and click "Calculate" and it will determine how many coils are required, the wire diameter,

03:01

as well as what the minimum load will be in this scenario.

03:04

So I'll go ahead and select "Calculate".

03:07

And notice it updated all the values, for minimum load diameter, loose spring length, as well as the max load length.

03:17

And now I can go back to the design tab, and I can place my spring where I need it.

03:22

So right here for placement,

03:23

I'll choose axis and I will select this cylindrical face of the shaft right there.

03:33

And then for my Starting Plane, I'm going to choose this face of the gear. It places the spring.

03:39

And you'll notice it has the correct inner diameter, two active coils,

03:46

and then a 0.244 inch wire diameter, that all looks good.

03:50

So I'll go ahead and select, "Ok".

03:53

This will create a compression spring in my current folder. So I'll go ahead and place it.

04:01

So the Compression Spring is placed along that shaft where I specified, and you can see it's been designed as needed.

04:09

You'll notice it shows up at the bottom of my browser on the left hand side is compress spring.

04:14

If I need to make a change to any of the parameters, I can right-click on it and go to "Edit using Design Accelerator",

04:20

just like the other tools, it opens it back up, and I can make changes to the calculation, or any of the dimensions that I've chosen.

04:33

There are many other component generators as well as calculators available with Autodesk Inventor Professional 2024.

04:41

You'll notice on the "Design" tab, we've already discussed fasten frame and compression spring.

04:48

There's also this Power Transmission panel.

04:51

You'll notice on here, there's design component generators for Shafts, Gears, Bearings, Cams, et cetera.

04:60

If you hit the drop down menu, you'll also notice there's more in here, such as Drum Brake Calculators, Power Screw Calculators.

05:08

And if you select the "Handbook" here, it will open up the engineer's handbook.

05:13

Now, this will open up the Autodesk page in the Help manual that discusses the handbook.

05:20

This is where you can find a full list of the assembly component generators, as well as calculators available with Inventor.

05:26

So if I click on "Assembly Component Generators", it gives me this list.

05:30

If I would like to learn more about creating a bearing component, I can click on that Generator and opens up that page in the Help manual.

05:39

Now, from here, you can break down the different topics.

05:42

For instance, if I want to learn how to design a bearing, I can select on that there.

05:47

And it opens up a menu that discusses the workflow for designing bearings as well as calculating bearings.

05:56

On the left hand side here, you'll also see a list of all the different component generators that you can expand,

06:02

and dig through to determine how to design as well as how to use the different calculators for each component.

Create compression springs - Exercise

  1. Open the Belt Driven Reducer - Springs.iam assembly file from your working folder. 
  2. Activate the Design tab from the Inventor ribbon. 
  3. Select Compression Spring from the Frame panel.



  4. Set the Spring Diameter to Inner
  5. Set D2 to 1.1.



  6. Activate the Calculation tab from the dialog box.
  7. On the Calculation tab, make the following changes: 
    • Change Design Type to F8, D, Assembly Dimensions -> d, L0, n, F1
    • Enter 300 for Max Load
    • Enter 175 for Working Load
    • Check the box under Spring Material
    • Choose Oil-tempered steel wire QQ-W-428 from the list. 
    • Enter 1.5 for Min. Load Length.



  8. Click Calculate
  9. Return to the Design tab. 
  10. Activate the Axis selector button.
  11. Choose the outer cylindrical surface of the shaft (as shown).



  12. Select the front face of the grey gear for the Start Plane (as shown).



  13. Click OK to create the spring.
  14. Save and Close the model.
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