MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > 2.2 Mechanism-Editor: > Kinematic elements

Trace-Point

Terminology:

Trace-Point :

a locus, or a path, of a moving Point relative to the Mechanism-Plane for one machine-cycle.

MD-Harmongraphs

Add Trace-Point

Add Trace-Point does NOT add a Point to your model.

You must select a Point that is in your model before you do Add Trace-Point.

Three example Trace-Points

STEP 1:Start the Add Trace-Point command

1.Mechanism-Editor: Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Add Trace-Point

1.Mechanism-Editor: Kinematic elements toolbar > Add Trace-Point

STEP 2:Click a Point

2.Click a Point* in the graphic-area.

For example, in the image, Points and / or

* Start-Point, End-Point, center-Point, or Point

See below: How to drag a Point with a Trace-Point.

If the Select-Element dialog opens, you have clicked more than one Point.

1.a. CTRL + click a Point in the Select-Elements dialog

1.b. Click to close the Select-Elements dialog

STEP 3: Complete the command

3.Click in the Command-Manager

The Trace-Point is now in the graphic-area.

Video:

How to drag a Point with a Trace-Point

Normally, when the Mechanism-Editor is active, you cannot move a sketch-element that is a child to a Part.

However, it is sometimes useful to search for a good Trace-Point, by moving the Point.

You can drag Points in the Mechanism-Editor if ALL of these conditions are met:

The Point must be a Point - that, is, it cannot be a start-Point, end-Point or center-Point.

IF...

In the Part-Editor:

a.You do: Part-Editor > Add Point

AND IF...

Also, in the Part-Editor

b.You do not add a dimension or a constraint to the Point

AND IF...

In the Mechanism-Editor:

c.You add a Trace-Point to the Point

Then, you can drag the Point and the Trace-Point in the Mechanism-Editor.

Note:

To make it easier to move the Point:

•Reduce the Number-of-Steps to ~30 in the Machine Setting dialog

and / or

•Drag the Point and then wait until Trace-Point moves.

To add a Trace-Point of a Point relative to a Part that is NOT the Base-Part

A Trace-Point is the locus of a Point in a moving Part relative to the Base-Part. To see the locus of a Point in a moving Part relative to a different moving Part, you can add a 2D-Cam, and show only the path of the Pitch-Center.

1.Edit the Part with the Point whose locus you want to see relative to a moving Part.

2.Add a Circle, and add a Coincident constraint between the center-Point of the Circle and the Point.

3.Exit the Part-Editor

4.Add a Profile to the Circle

Add 2D-Cam - you must select two elements:

5.Cam-Part: Select the Part in which you want to show the locus of the Point

6.Follower Profile: Select the Profile of the Circle

To show the locus of the Point

7.Edit the 2D-Cam.

8.In 2D-Cam dialog > Display tab > Cam-Visibilities > Enable Pitch-Center.

The locus of the Pitch-center is the locus and Trace-Point of the Point relative to the Cam-Part.