<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation: MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > 2.2 Mechanism-Editor > Mechanisms > Kinematic elements > Add Trace-Point |
Trace-Point : |
a locus, or a path, of a moving Point relative to the Mechanism-Plane for one machine-cycle. |
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
STEP 2:Click a Point
* Start-Point, End-Point, center-Point, Point, or Motion-Point See below: How to drag a Point with a Trace-Point. |
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If the Select-Element dialog opens, you have clicked more than one Point.
STEP 3: Complete the command
The Trace-Point is now in the graphics-area. |
Video:
Video: Add 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. when in the Mechanism-Editor.
You can drag a Point in the Mechanism-Editor: IF... in the Part-Editor: 1.You do Add Point (that is, a Point, and not a start-Point, end-Point, center-Point or Motion-Point) AND IF... in the Part-Editor: 2.You do not add a dimension or a constraint to the Point AND IF... in the Mechanism-Editor: 3.You do Add Trace-Point and select the Point Note: To make it easier to drag the Point: •Reduce the Number-of-Steps to ~30 - see Machine Setting dialog and / or •Move the Point and wait until Trace-Point moves. |
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. |