Ball-Joint
See: Add Ball-Joint. Tutorial 12: Design a Spatial Mechanism
We use the Ball-Joint for spatial mechanisms.
Most often, Ball-Joints join Parts that are in different Mechanism-Editors, such that their Mechanism-Planes are perpendicular(⊥).
A Ball-Joint must be added to each end of one Part.
The derived name for a Part with Ball-Joints at each end is a Connecting-Part.
Open Ball-Joint dialog-box
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The Ball-Joint element may be inside the symbol of the Connecting-Part. 1.Move your pointer above the end of the Connecting-Part until the Ball-Joint is red - see image. 2.Click the symbol for the Ball-Joint |
 Ball-Joint in the Selection-Window |
The Ball-Joint element should be in the Selection-Window 3.Right-click the Ball-Joint in the Selection-Window 4.Click Edit Element in the contextual-menu. The Ball-Joint dialog-box is now open. |
Ball-Joint dialog-box
Usually, you edit two Ball-Joints - one at each end of the Connecting-Part.
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Ball Diameter
Ball Offset (±)
Ball Mass
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Example of Ball-Offset : Z = 10mm <<< image shows model from the left view - View toolbar > View Left (Shortcut : F7).
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When to use the Ball-Offset parameter? All other kinematic-elements are on the Mechanism-Plane. However, the center of Ball-Joints are frequently not on the Mechanism-Plane. It is important that the offset distance to the center of the Ball-Joint is correct to make sure the kinematic-analysis is correct. See also : Ball-Joint Configurations |
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