hydraulics

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

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

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