Mechanism | Add Mechanism (Editor)

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Mechanism | Add Mechanism (Editor)

What is a Mechanism?

A Mechanism, in the context of the Add Mechanism commands, is a Mechanism-Editor and its name-tab.

Use Mechanism-Editors to add Parts, Joints, Cams, Gears, Belts, ... to design your machine.

IMPORTANT: Gravitational Vector ( g = 9.81665 m/s/s )

MD-GRAVITY-VECTOR

The Gravity Vector is in the negative Y-axis direction (Green Arrohead in the Model-Editor.

Before you add the first Mechanism-Editor, to a Plane, consider the type of machine.

For example, if your machine has a horizontal indexing or rotating table, add the Mechanism-Editor for the table to the Top Plane, or a Plane that is parallel to the Top Plane.

Add Mechanism-Editor

Model elements toolbar

Model elements toolbar

Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Model sub-menu > Add Mechanism

<<< Model elements toolbar > Add Mechanism

 

 
Command-Manager

Command-Manager

STEP 1.Click Add Mechanism

The message in the Command-Manager is:

Add new Mechanism-Editor. Select a Plane
Command-Manager - Plane element

Command-Manager - Plane element

STEP 2: Click a Plane

Click a Plane in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree.

Note : To see Planes in Mechanism-Editors: Visibility toolbar >Show Solids in Mechanisms.

STEP 3: Click OK-tiny-13-17 in the Command-Manager

You jump immediately to the new Mechanism-Editor.

The new Mechanism-Editor is a child to the Plane you click in STEP 2.

The New Mechanism-Editor - in the Graphic-Area

Mechanism Editor - Identify

The Front-View of the new Mechanism-Editor:

Red-14-1b : Base-Part has a rectangular Green Part-Outline

Red-14-2 : Mechanism name-tab  

Red-14-3 : Contextual Toolbars (left and right of the graphic-area)

Red-14-4 : Graphic-Area

Red-14-5 : Local XY-axes of the NEW Mechanism-Editor and Base-Part

•The +X–axis is horizontal, to the right ( > )

•The +Y–axes is vertical, and upwards ( ^ )

•The +Z–axis is towards you (◎)

The New Mechanism-Editor - in the Assembly-Tree

MD-AT-AddMechanism

The hierarchy of the new elements

•Mechanism2 - is a child to Plane4

•BasePart2  - is a child to Mechanism2.

The XY-Plane of Plane4, Mechanism2, and Base-Part2 are coplanar and coincident.

Video:

Add Mechanism-Editor to Plane