Chain Links

grabcad

Modeling Chain in Solidworks is difficult! This is a simple way of generating chain links which will connect together aesthetically, if not accurately. It also gives a starting point for a physical dynamic or motion study analysis if you suppress the mates once the chain is in the starting position. Essentially, you add a line through the circle which is swept to form a link. Then add a point on the circle on what will be the inner face of the link. When you are making an assembly of links, you mate the lines on adjacent links perpendicular and the points coincident. It means the chain will only be the correct length when stretched out in a straight line - but as I said, it gives an aesthetically good representation for many purposes. This isn't intended as an entry for the chain wear indicator challenge, just something I thought might be useful to anyone else submitting an entry!