<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation: MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > 2.2 Mechanism-Editor: > Kinematic elements > Add Trace-Point |
Terminology:
Add Trace-Point does NOT add a Point to the model. You must select a Point that is in the model. |
![]() Three example Trace-Points |
STEP 1:Start the Add Trace-Point command
STEP 2:Click a Point
* Start-Point, End-Point, center-Point, or Point. See below, also: How to drag a Point with a Trace-Point. |
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If the Select-Element dialog-box opens, you have clicked more than one Point.
STEP 3: Complete the command
The Trace-Point is now in the graphic-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.
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 drag the Point more easily: •Reduce the Number-of-Steps to ~30 in the Machine Setting dialog-box and / or •Drag the Point and then keep the mouse-pointer very still until the Trace-Point moves. |
Add a 2D-Cam. The Point whose locus you want to see relative to a different Part is the center-Point of the Cam-Follower. 1.Edit the Part with the Point 2.Add a Circle with its centre-Point coincident with the Point. 3.Then, 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 Trace-Point 6.Follower Profile: Select the Profile of the Circle (see 1) To show the Trace-Point 7.Edit the 2D-Cam (see 2D-Cam dialog-box) and show only the Pitch-Center The locus of the Pitch-Centre is the Trace-Point of the Point relative to the Cam-Part |