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HyDraw CAD search from FluidPowerTools.com

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Below you find a quick guide for FluidPowerTools.com search in HyDraw CAD.

Since FPT.com is a very large database, you may find convenient the possibility to exclude not needed manufacturers from your search. To do so:

  • Go to Services Menu
  • Click on Data Access Settings
  • Select / Unselect what you need to
Services
Open Manufacturer List
Click Here
Manufacturers
Select / Unselect what you need to
Click Here
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Usually this is a “one time” setting, if you need more Manufacturers simply follow again same steps.

Assuming we have defined a set of preferred manufacturers, let us understand how to search within the library. To switch to “Component Search” dialog in HyDraw Library Explorer click on the small Arrow icon you find on top right of Library Explorer

Search all components available for a Manufacturer

From HyDraw Library Explorer\Component Search

  • make sure you have FluidPowerTools.com selected.
  • Select your desired Manufacturer (i.e. Delta-Power in this case)
  • Click on Search

At the end of the search, you will see a list of available model families and symbols. Insert symbol with double click on the image.

Note: Output search will always be limited to 200 components. 

Search a specific Model Code - Model Family

To search for specific Model Codes or Families:

  1. type Model Code string (i.e. EG-S4)
    Note: % is the wildcard. If you search for 4WE%J it means HYDraw CAD will look for all items starting for 4WE and having a J in between
  2. Click Search
  3. if your search is valid, you will see list of model families or model codes and their symbols.

Search by Component Type

If you are not familiar with model codes, you can do a search by Component Type across single or multiple manufacturers.

  1.  Select component type from Component Type List
  2. Filter Manufacturer if needed
  3. Click Search

Output search will be list of model families and symbols. It’s possible to filter by Manufacturer after search is performed

Assembly rules for Surface Mounted components

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A Surface Mounted component is an item that will be assembled to a manifold face through Bolt Holes. Examples are: NG6- NG10… valves, Slip-In covers, Flanges, all surface mounted valves.
Matings for a Surface Mounted valve differ from those of a cartridge since MDTools must properly rotate the component to match the Footprint direction.

4 matings are required by MDTools Set Assembly constraint command:

  1. bottom face = plane where the component will touch the manifold face
  2. Top face = plane where another component will be assembled on top (i.e. stackable valves)
  3. Axis 1 and 2 = axis to define orientation
    MDTools rules for axis definition are:
    a) if only Bolt Holes are present in the cavity: Axis 1 = BH1, Axis 2 = BH2
    b) if only one Locating Pin is present: Axis 1 = LP, Axis 2 = BH1
    c) if 2 locating Pins are present: Axis 1 = LP1, Axis 2 = BH2
Following images shows a, b and c cases:
Axis rule definition with BH1 and BH2
Click Here
Axis rule definition with LP and BH1
Click Here
Axis rule definition with LP1 and LP2
Click Here
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Bottom face and top face rules must follow what is described by this image:

Video showing how to set assembly constraints in MDTools 900 series for SolidWorks. 

Step files for the 3d models used in the video.

Assembly rules for cartridge valves

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Cartridge valves fit into cavities, for MDTools we have 2 type of cavities: standard and “sun cavities”. Standard means a cavity with C’Bore, Sun Cavities take origin to Sun Hydraulics valves, they mate with a Locating Shoulder that’s inside the cavity. Below we see 2 examples of cavities taken from MDTools Library Manager.

Standard Cavity, mating plane = SpotFace

Sun Cavity, mating plane = Locating Shoulder (LS)

Cartridge valve rules are set through MDTools Set Constraints dialog. For a cartridge valve we need 3 constraints: top face, bottom face, axis.

Each of these geometries must be set directly in the valve 3d model

MDTools Set Constraints command is available in both assembly and part environment for SolidWorks and Autodesk Inventor.

Top face is always required, it is not relevant when the cartridge will not have any additional item assembled on top (i.e. a coil, a nut). 

Coils, nut… will require same constraints to be assembled automatically by MDTools

Below example of Bottom Face / Top Face for Cartridge, Coil and Nut for a Solenoid Valve assembly.

Video showing how to set Constraints and create assembly with MDTools on SolidWorks. MDTools on Autodesk Inventor behaves very similarly so each item described is applicable. If you need more info feel free to contact us

Assembly rules for Plugs

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Fro MDTools we have 2 type of plugs: threaded with Spot/Face and expander.

Plugs without spotface must be threated like Expander with respect to Assembly Rules.

Example of threaded plug cavity

Example of Expander cavity

In both cases, user must identify cavity STEP0. Below images show how plugs must be assembled on the 3d model.

Threaded plugs follow “Cartridge Valve” assembly rules.
In this section user is supposed to select
Top Face = non relevant here but you must select (select external plug face)
Bottom Face = mating plane, surface that will match cavity STEP0 plane
Axis = plug axis (thread cylinder axis)

It’s possible to select any planar face from 3d model instead of planes.  In case face is not planar, you can create plane with cad commands and select them instead.

If plug is assembled bottom-up, flip bottom face plane normal by using dedicated commands in Inventor or SolidWorks.

Expander follow Expander Plug assembly rules. For MDTools 700 Series (Inventor) only bottom edge is required. MDTools 900 series for SolidWorks requires 2 constraints, Bottom Edge and Bottom Face, because of different 3D CAD engine mating management.

Below you find 3D CAD zipped folders ready to use within MDTools.
3d models come from Bossard Part Community, and Parker Portal.

Autodesk Inventor 2020

BSP Plugs
Expander Plugs
SAE-UNF Plugs
Metric Plugs
NPTF Plugs

SolidWorks 2020

BSP Plugs
Expander Plugs
SAE Plugs
Metric Plugs
NPTF Plugs

Exercise nr.4

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Practice with MDTools on a more complex block, a mix of surface mounted valves and cartridge valves. In this exercise I introduce the “net table”, a document you can create manually to help you with the design. Net Table is not needed in case of design from HyDraw CAD.

Circuit

Target

Net Table

Nets highlighted in the circuit

The block is designed with MDTools 970 for SolidWorks. Below you find

3d models used in the design

mbxml block file