How Do You Make a Hinge Flexible in SolidWorks?

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Are you tired of rigid designs in SolidWorks? Do you want to add flexibility to your models?

Look no further! In this tutorial, we will explore how to make a hinge flexible in SolidWorks. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Creating the Base Parts

Before we can create a flexible hinge, we need to create the base parts that will form the hinge mechanism. Start by creating two simple parts – one for the hinge arm and another for the hinge pin.

To create the hinge arm, follow these steps:

  • Create a new part file in SolidWorks.
  • Use sketch tools like lines, arcs, and circles to define the shape of the hinge arm.
  • Apply extrusion or revolve feature to give it thickness and depth.

To create the hinge pin, follow these steps:

  • Create another new part file in SolidWorks.
  • Again, use sketch tools to define the shape of the hinge pin. Typically, a cylindrical shape works well for a pin.
  • Apply extrusion or revolve feature to give it length and diameter.

Step 2: Assembling the Hinge

Now that we have our base parts ready, let’s assemble them into a hinge mechanism. Follow these steps:

  1. Create a new assembly file in SolidWorks.
  2. Insert both the hinge arm and hinge pin as components into the assembly.
  3. Mate one end of the pin with one end of the arm using a concentric mate. This will ensure that they are aligned at this end.
  4. Mate the other end of the pin with the other end of the arm using a coincident mate. This will fix their relative position.

At this point, we have a basic hinge assembly. However, it is still rigid and doesn’t allow any movement. Let’s make it flexible!

Step 3: Adding Flexibility

To add flexibility to our hinge, we will utilize the powerful functionality of SolidWorks’ built-in flexible subassembly feature. Follow these steps:

  1. Select the hinge assembly in the FeatureManager Design Tree.
  2. Right-click on it and choose “Component Properties” from the context menu.
  3. In the Component Properties dialog box, check the “Flexible” option.

By enabling this option, we are telling SolidWorks that our hinge assembly should behave like a flexible subassembly. This means that its components can move relative to each other.

Step 4: Testing and Animating

We have successfully made our hinge flexible! Now let’s test it and see how it moves.

To animate the movement of our hinge, follow these steps:

  1. In the assembly file, go to the Motion Study tab at the bottom of your SolidWorks interface.
  2. Create a new motion study by clicking on “New Motion Study”.
  3. Select one or more components in your assembly that you want to animate (in this case, both the hinge arm and hinge pin).
  4. Use mates or drag handles to define how you want these components to move during the animation.
  5. Click on “Calculate” to calculate and visualize your animation.

Voila! You can now see your flexible hinge in action – moving, rotating, or bending as per your animation setup.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have learned how to make a hinge flexible in SolidWorks. By following the steps outlined here, you can add flexibility to your designs and create dynamic mechanisms. So go ahead and experiment with different types of hinges and movements to unleash the full potential of SolidWorks!