simulation software

[scott0031]

Does anyone know of any half decent usable free simulation software, the type of thing where you can check motions of moving parts like gears or in my case if a gear form will clash on rotation. Needs to be something that works reasonably well that with any luck will show up clashes of such parts.


Thanks you in advance guys.


Scott

 

[snowcat]

Autocad?

 

[Normsthename]

Some of the better 3D Cad programs have Motion Simulation like Alibre Expert and Solidworks etc.
Lots of $$$

Andy

 

[scott0031]

I know what ones will do it but thats why i said ' free' lol. Several thousand pounds i cant justify or afford to prove one job.


Thanks anyway guys.



kind regards,


Scott

 

[stucktoweld]

try a search in sourceforge
a quick look found 207 for CAD might be one here your looking for
For example found and this may interest others here
Ferma is a free educational CAD software for truss units analysis. It is grounded on the construction conception and designed for finite element calculation and optimization of 2D truss structural units. this might interest others here
By the way sourceforge only shows open source software so its always FREE

 

[scott0031]

Thanks for that reply, Thats a good link. I had a good nose around that site most of it looks like developers software. Hard to actually define what some of it does or can do without downloading and trying.


Still looking through the list. Many thanks again,

Kinds regards,


Scott

 

[Spot the welders dog]

Have you tried this site

I used this app some time back and remember that you can simulate motion. It's free, but do take time to view the tutorial, unless you have a previous understanding of CAD.

 

[dopplershift]

Solidworks is *ahem* available from some sites.

Soliworks will do gear motion and interference detection.

What about the low-tech option: print out gear forms to scale on carboard, cut them out, pin through the centers and test them out by hand? Spose this would only work for simple tooth profiles though, and you'd have to be pretty accurate with the cut-outs.

 

[scott0031]

Guys, Thanks a lot for all the generous input. I think i have it sorted now.

I have done the print out a template job and cut it out some weeks ago. It didnt prove good enough to say it would or wouldnt work.

Many thanks again and Kind regards,


Scott