Animation of a MacPherson Strut

[masheyrd]

Hi all,

I've been using AutoDesk Inventor for the past 3-4 months, working on two separate projects - one to design a front wheel assembly, and another to design a suspension assembly.

 

For my project, I need to show the animation of the suspension assembly (MacPherson strut) in terms of the spring movement with the strut, the lower control arm and the knuckle.

 

I've been trying for a couple of weeks now and the most I can get is driving the constraint in the strut itself. In this animation, I can get the spring to compress and expand between lengths x and y.

 

However, I'm having difficulty driving this constraint with the rest of the assembly. Attached are screenshots of the simple assembly.

 

I would really appreciate any help as this project is due in two days and it's the last thing that could potentially push me up to a distinction (I got a poor mark for the first project). Please help if you can, many thanks!

 

http://40.media.tumblr.com/3d80722b5cb493a6658b5c8218579d33/tumblr_o192ou8CqQ1rostg0o1_500.png

 

http://41.media.tumblr.com/e69ead70a90fe482f89546b0e6f2bd6d/tumblr_o192ou8CqQ1rostg0o2_250.png

 

http://40.media.tumblr.com/4d5879c6ee039434f60bf2805a351694/tumblr_o192ou8CqQ1rostg0o3_250.png

 

http://41.media.tumblr.com/a36a370245ea249f817eb6cb8325fac6/tumblr_o192ou8CqQ1rostg0o4_500.png

[Dinochrome]

I saw this in passing the other day.

 

If you have 16 minutes.... ....it might be of some help.