1.9: Final Project - Assembly

Introduction

A C–clamp is a cheap and portable alternative to a table vise. It is made of a piece of metal shaped like a 'C' and a bolt with a flat head. The bolt can go back and forth to clamp or unclamp a workpiece. The assembly of these two components forms a C-clamp.

Create the body of the C-clamp

In this section, the body of the C-clamp will be sketched and then then extruded.

Step 1 - Initial sketch of the clamp

Sketch the initial body as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\). Make sure the units are inches. Create the U shape using the Line option. The length of the line is 9.815 inches. Then round off the edges using the Fillet option. The radius of the fillet on each side is 1.597 inches. The inner line is offset at a distance of 1.45 inches. The fillet radius on this inner line is 0.629 inches.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Initial Sketch.

Then, sketch a three-point arc on the left side of the initial sketch as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\). The radius of this arc is 1.803 inches.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\): Three-point arc on the left side of the sketch.

Next, use the Trim option to remove the extra bit of vertical line left over, as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\).

Finally, draw a horizontal line on the right side of the initial sketch to complete the sketch. The completed sketch is shown Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\): Completed initial sketch.

Step 2 - Extrude the clamp

Extrude the sketch completed in the previous step. The extrude parameters are shown in the dialog box. The completed extrude and the parameters are shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\): Extruded sketch.

Step 3 - Sketch clamping surface

Select the inner surface of the clamp and sketch a square of side 0.875 inches, with its center at 1.5 inches away from the edge of the clamp as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{5}\): Sketch clamping surface.

Step 4 - Extrude the clamping surface

Extrude the sketch created in the previous step to a distance of 0.30 inches as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{6}\): Extrude the clamping surface.

Step 5 - Create a lip on the edge of the clamp

Use the offset option and copy the existing edge of the clamp as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\). This offset sketch will be on the inside of the existing curve and at a distance of 0.146 inches as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{7}\): Use the Offset option to copy the create a sketch parallel to the pre-existing sketch of the clamp.

Figure \(\PageIndex{8}\): Sketch created using the Offset option.

Step 6 - Extrude the lip

Extrude the offset sketch created in the previous step to a distance of 0.20 inches. The extrude parameters are shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{9}\): Extrude parameters for the lip.

Step 7 - Apply Fillet to the extruded lip

Apply a Fillet of 0.05 inches to the lip created in step 2.6. The end result of the applied fillets is shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{10}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{10}\): Fillet applied to the extruded lip.

Step 8 - Apply Fillet to the edges of the clamping surface

Apply a Fillet of radius 0.020 inches to the edges of the clamping surface that was created in step 4. The result of this applied Fillet is shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{11}\): Fillet applied to edges of the clamping surface.

Step 9 - Sketch text on the clamp surface

Select the surface of the clamp and sketch text on the surface as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{12}\). In the Edit Text dialog box, enter the “TRDS 160” in the first line and “Centralia College” in the second line.

Figure \(\PageIndex{12}\): Sketch text on clamp surface.

Step 10 - Extrude text on the clamp surface

Select the sketch text created in the previous step. Extrude the text to a height of 0.20 inches. The extruded text is shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{13}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{13}\): Extruded text on the clamp surface.

Step 11 - Repeat steps 5, 6, and 7 on the other side of the clamp.

Step 12 - Sketch a circle on the far side of the clamp.

Sketch a circle of diameter 1.40 inches and with its center at 0.50 inches below the edge as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{14}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{14}\): Circle sketched on the far side of the clamp.

Step 13 - Extrude the circle

Extrude the circle created in the previous step to a distance of 1.50 inches as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{15}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{15}\): Extruded circle.

Step 14 - Sketch a circle on the feature created in step 13

Sketch a concentric circle of diameter of 1.00 inches as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{16}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{16}\): Sketch of the circle.

Step 15 - Extrude a hole from the feature created in step 2.14

Use the Extrude Cut option as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{17}\) to cut a through hole using the circle created in the previous step.

Figure \(\PageIndex{17}\): Extrude Cut option.

Step 16 - Create threads on the inside of the hole created in step 15

Add right-handed ACME screw threads of size 1, designation 1, and class 4G, as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{18}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{18}\): Add ACME threads.

Step 17 - Save this file.

Create the Clamp Spindle

In this section, the clamp spindle will be sketched and then then extruded.

Step 1 - Create the sketch of the clamp spindle

Create a new file. Make sure the units are inches. Add a centerline and sketch the profile as shown in the Figure \(\PageIndex{19}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{19}\): Profile of the clamp spindle with details of the lower and upper profiles shown.

Step 2 - Revolve the profile created in Spindle step 1

Use the Revolve option to create a cylindrical profile as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{20}\).To make sure the profile is complete choose an angle of 360°.

Figure \(\PageIndex{20}\): Revolve to create a cylindrical clamp spindle.

Step 3 - Add threads to the clamp spindle

Add right-handed, ACME threads to the clamp spindle threads of size 1, designation 1, and class 4G, to the clamp spindle as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{21}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{21}\): Add ACME threads to clamp spindle.

Step 4 - Sketch a circle on the clamp spindle

Create a sketch of a circle of diameter 0.175 inches that is 0.124 inches away from the top edge of the clamp spindle and 0.60 inches from the side of the clamp spindle as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{22}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{22}\): Sketch the circle on the clamp spindle.

Step 5 - Extrude circle to create the swivel bar

Extrude the circle created in the previous step symmetrically to a length of 2.30 inches as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{23}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{23}\): Extrude the circle to create the swivel bar.

Step 6 - Create fillet at the edge of the swivel bar

Create a fillet of radius 0.050 inches as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{24}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{24}\): Fillet at the end of the swivel bar

Step 7 - Save this file.

Assemble the body clamp and clamp spindle

In this section the body of the clamp and clamp spindle will be assembled as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{25}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{25}\): Assembled clamp body and clamp spindle.

Step 1 - Insert components in the new file

Create a new file and add the clamp and the spindle by using the Assemble option as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{26}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{26}\): Assemble option to add components into the file.

Step 2 - Create Joint

Use the Joint command and select the origin on the top side of the spindle and the origin located on the end of the spindle hole as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{27}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{27}\): Creating the joint.

Step 3 - Edit Joint

Right click the joint to edit the parameters. Select a cylindrical joint and edit the rotational and linear joint limits as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{28}\).

Figure \(\PageIndex{28}\): Editing the linear and rotational joint.

Step 4 - Verify the joint parameters

Right click on the joint and select the Animate Joint option as shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{29}\). This will animate the joint and verify if the parameters worked out as required.

Figure \(\PageIndex{29}\): Animate Joint option to verify the joint parameters.

Step 5 - Save the file.