Dialog: Configure Power Source

<< Click to Display Table of Contents >>

Navigation:  MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > Dialogs >

Dialog: Configure Power Source

Configure Power Source

See How to open the Configure Power Source dialog


When you want MechDesigner to calculate for you the forces at joints, 2D-Cams, Springs, Pulleys, you must make sure the Power-Source is at the correct joint or element.

If you do not Configure the Power-Source to be at the correct joint or element, the forces that we calculate for you are not correct!

Power Sources

Each degree-of-freedom in a kinematic-chain that is kinematically-defined has a power-source.

In the default case, the power-source is a motor at the joint (Pin-Joint or Slide-Joint) whose motion you control with a Motion-Dimension FB. A power-source can also be a 2D-Cam, Spring, or Pulley element.

If the power-source is not at the correct joint or element, use the Configure Power Source dialog to change it to the correct joint or element.

If the Power-Source element is a :

Pin-Joint - we calculate for you the Torque (Application-Torque) that you need at the output from a Motor and Gearbox  - see Gearbox and Servo-Sizing.

Slide-Joint - we calculate for you the Motive-Force that you need from a Linear-Motor.

2D-Cam / Conjugate Cam - we calculate for you the Contact-Force, Contact-Stress, Cam-Life, and Roller-Life - see 2D-Cam dialog

Spring - we calculate for you the Motive-Force (if you you configure the Spring as a Linear-Motor).


Configure Power Source dialog

You must Configure the Power Source for each degree-of-freedom in each Kinematic-Chain.

There are two tabs in the Configure Power Source dialog:

tog_minusPower Source tab
tog_minusDisplay Colors tab