Creating the Front Differential

Before you can create the front differential, you must create a single hardpoint to locate the front differential, and a construction frame with the z-axis along the differential rotating axis. You then create the front differential and reduce the size of the icons so you can better see the differential.

To create a hardpoint:

1. From the Build menu, point to Hardpoint, and then select New.
2. In the Hardpoint Name text box, enter front_diff_ref.
3. Set Type to single.
4. In the Location text box, enter 0, 0, 0.
5. Select OK.

To create a construction frame:

1. From the Build menu, point to Construction Frame, and then select New.
2. In the Construction Frame text box, enter front_diff_ref.
3. Set Type to single.
4. Verify that Location Dependency is set to Delta location from coordinate.
5. Right-click the Coordinate Reference text box, point to Coordinate Reference, point to Guesses, and then select hps_front_diff_ref.
6. Note the following default settings:
Location: 0, 0, 0
Location in: local
Orientation Dependency: User entered values
Orientation using: Euler Angles
7. In the Euler Angles text box, enter 0, 90, 0.
8. Select OK.

To create the differential:

1. From the Driveline Components menu, point to COMPLEX COMPONENTS, and then select Entire Differential Unit.
2. In the Differential Center Reference text box, enter cfs_front_diff_ref.
3. Note the following default settings:
Differential Name: front
Side Gear Radius: 40
Pinion Gear Radius: 30
Ring Gear Outer Radius: 120
Ring Gear Inner Radius: 60
4. For the rest of the options, set the following specifications:
Ring Gear Offset: -50
Ring Gear Geometry: Hypoid
Mass: 10
Ixx: 1e4
Iyy: 1e4
Izz: 1e4
5. Select OK.

To reduce the size of the icons:

1. From the Settings menu, select Icons.
2. In the New Size text box, enter 15.
3. Select OK.

To change the magnification of your assembly:

1. With the cursor in the center of the main window, type a lowercase z.
2. Hold down the left mouse button, and do either of the following:
To enlarge the display of the assembly, or zoom in, move the cursor up.
To shrink the display of the assembly, or zoom out, move the cursor down.
3. To exit zoom mode, release the mouse button.