MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > 2.2 Mechanism-Editor > Function-Blocks > Kinematic Function-Blocks

Measurement FB

Use a Measurement FB to measure a Dimension.

You can measure the:

•Length of a Line, CAD-Line

•Radius of a Circle, arc

•Distance between two Points**

•Distance between a Line* and a Point**

•Distance between two parallel Lines*

•Angle between two Lines*

•Angle between three Points**

* Line, CAD-Line, X-axis, Y-axis.

** Point, start-Point, end-Point, center-Point, and/or Motion-Point.

The motion-values at the output-connector(s) of a Measurement FB.

The measurement is usually between sketch-elements that are in different Parts. Thus, the dimension changes throughout the machine-cycle.

The motion-values at the output-connector(s)§ of a Measurement FB:

•are a function of the Master-Machine-Angle

•continually change

•include the first and second motion-derivative of the dimension.

§ There are two(2) output-connectors when you measure the distance between two Points* - see more details below

Connect wires from the output-connectors of a Measurement FB

You can connect wires from a Measurement FB to a:

•Graph FB or Stats FB - to analyze the dimension and motion-values

•Motion-Dimension FB or - to use the output as the motion-values for a Motion-Part.

•Motion-Path FB - to use the output as the motion-values for a Motion-Point.

•Motion FB - to use the motion-values as the X-axis of a Motion design in MotionDesigner.

•Math FB - to use the motion-values in an equation, or to change the units of the motion-values.

Messages:

Messages in the Feedback-Area may be: “1 Mechanism dependencies detected”. This means, that the motion of a kinematic-chain is a function of (dependent on) the motion (measurement) of a different kinematic-chain. It is usually called Motion-Dependency.

Add Measurement FB

Measurement FB between two Points

1.Click Kinematics FB toolbar > Measurement FB

1.Click Function-Blocks menu > Measurement (FB)

2.Click a sketch-element or the sketch-elements between which you want to measure.

In this example, the Measurement FB and Dimension is between two Points

3.Click the graphics-area.

The Measurement FB and Dimension are now in the graphics-area.

Note:

In the graphics-area, to move the:

•Measurement FB – Drag the FB

•Dimension – CTRL + Drag the FB or the Dimension.

* Line, CAD-Line, X-axis, Y-axis ** Point, start-Point, end-Point, center-Point, Motion-Point.
Image	Sketch-Elements	Measurement Dimension
	Line or CAD-Line.	Length: Click the Line*
	Circle or Arc.	Radius: Click the circle or arc.
	Point - Line	Perpendicular Distance between the Line and Point. 1.Click the Point** 2.Click the Line*
	Point - Point	Linear Distance and Angle between two Points. •Click a Point •Click a Point A Measurement FB between two Points** has two output-connectors: •Top output-connector: distance between two Points, and first and second motion-derivatives •Bottom output-connector: angle between two Points, and first and second motion-derivatives

Measurement: Angle between Three Points - Internal Angle and External Angle. ** Point, start-Point, end-Point, center-Point
Image	Sketch-Elements	Measurement Dimension
	Three Points 1.Click 'Apex' Point 2.Click Point 3.Click Point**	Internal Angle The angle is from to in a Counter-Clockwise direction.
	Three Points 1.Click 'Apex' Point 2.Click Point 3.Click Point**	External Angle The angle is from to in a Counter-Clockwise direction.