Getting Started Tutorials - MechDesigner > Elements, Symbols, Dialogs, and Parameters

Elements in the graphics-area

In the graphics-area, different symbols represent different elements.

Edit the size of symbols with Application Settings > Accessibility tab > Graphics > Symbol Display Size

Edit the color of symbols with Application Settings > Graphics tab > Display Colors > ... element types

Element Symbols

	Planes and Axes in the Model-Editor workspace. There are three, fixed Planes in the Model-Editor. Triad: Red(X-axis), Green(Y-axis) and Blue(Z-axis) The axes intersect at the Global Origin of the model. They use the Right-Hand-Rule. Planes and Axes in the Mechanism-Editors workspace: Note: to see Planes in Mechanism-Editors: Show Solids in Mechanisms The smaller Red(x), Green(y) and Blue(z) axes are a Plane's axes. The origin of the green, rectangular Part-Outline, which is the Base-Part (see below), is coincident with axes of the active Mechanism-Editor and Plane. They use the Right-Hand-Rule.

	Part-Outlines Part-Outline : the term for the symbol of a Part you add to the model. • Oval Part-Outline : symbol of a Part that you add to the model. • Rectangular Part-Outline : symbol of the Base-Part. The Base-Part is the frame of the active Mechanism-Editor.
	Part-Outlines: solved and not-solved Parts A Part is solved or not-solved. To analyze the kinematics of a Part, you must make sure it is solved, when the Part's mobility is zero. •A Part that is solved has a Mobility of zero. The Part-Outline changes color - usually a type of Green* in these tutorials. •A Part that is not-solved has a Mobility greater than zero . The Part-Outline is usually a type of Blue* in these tutorials. * Green and Blue are the colors in this Theme. See also Application-Settings > Graphics tab > Display Colors
	Pin-Joints in the Mechanism-Editor A Pin-Joint is a joint between Points in two different Parts. There are two symbols for a Pin-Joint: a Pin-Joint that joins a Point in a moving Part with a Point in the Base-Part is a symbol. a Pin-Joint that joins a Point in a moving Part with a Point in a different moving Part is a circle, slightly larger than the symbol for a Point.
	Slide-Joint in the Mechanism-Editor A Slide-Joint is a joint between two Lines - or one Line in two different Parts. The symbol for a Slide-Joint is: a narrow rectangle along the Line in one Part a wide rectangle along the Line in the other Part an arrowhead, in the positive direction of the slide-joint
	Part-Axes in the Mechanism-Editor The symbol for the Part-Axes is small in a Mechanism-Editor. •The Axes of the Base-Part are at the Origin of Mechanism-Plane •The Axes of a Part you add to the model are at the start-Point of the CAD-Line. The CAD-Line and +X-axis are between the start-Point and end-Point of a Part.
	Part Axes in the Part-Editor The symbol for the Part-Axes is large in the Part-Editor. •The X-axis is collinear with the CAD-Line •The Y-axis is at +90º on the Mechanism-Plane The length of the CAD-Line maybe longer or shorter than the X-axis.
Mechanism-Editor Part-Editor	Sketch-Element and Point Symbols In a Mechanism-Editor, the color of Point symbols are the same as the Part-Outline to which they are a child. In a Part-Editor, the color of Point symbols are dependent on if they are Fully-Defined or Not Fully-Defined.
	Point Symbols + : center-Point of an Arc or Circle +-- : center-Point that is merged with a start-point or end-Point -- : center-Point that is coincident with a start-Point or end-Point O-- : start-point or end-point of a Line or Arc -- : Enable Lock and Edit in the Point Properties dialog. See Point Properties dialog.
	Kinematic Vector Symbols Enable Show Velocity Vector and/or Show Acceleration Vector in the Point Properties dialog. Each vector arrow shows the direction and magnitude. See Feedback Area > Vector Scale buttons. See also: Application-Settings > Graphics > Display Colors
	Function-Block, output-connector, input-connector, and wire Symbols Function-Block - an icon that represents its function. Input-connectors - to the left-side of the Function-Blocks. Output-connectors - to the right-side of the Function-Blocks. Wires that connect Function-Blocks from output-connector to input-connector.
	Force Vectors, Torque Vectors, Motor Symbol , the Motor-Symbol is the Power-Source. Force-Vectors - action/reaction at the joint of a Part Torque-Vector - Application-Load at the joint that is the Power-Source. Motor - at the joint that is the Power-Source See also Configure Power Source
	Spring Symbols The Spring FB element has three symbols in the graphics-area: FB - see below Spring FB connectors Spring - between the anchor-points Dimension - between the anchor-points.
	Ball-Joint and Connecting-Part Symbols •The Ball-Joint has its own symbol. •Edit its radius in the Ball-Joint dialog. •The Connecting-Part symbol replaces the Part-Outline when you join a Part to a different Part with two Ball-Joints.
	Mass Symbols Profile Mass - each Profile has a symbol at its Center-of-Mass. Total Mass - at the Center-of-Mass of the Part with its Total Mass Total Mass on EACH Part = Mass of CAD-solids + MD-solids + User Defined Mass Properties
	2D-Cam Contact Points When you add a 2D-Cam, you will see the contact points between the Cam-Profile and the Follower-Profile.
	Motion-Points A Motion-Point is a small triangle inside a small circle. The circle is slightly smaller than the symbol for a Point.
	Gear-Pairs A Gear-Pair is two involute Gears.
	Pulleys A Driving-Pulley is a different color to a Driven Pulley See Application Settings > Graphics > Graphic colors.