Graph FB
Summary of Graph FB
Use a Graph FB to plot Kinematic Data, Kinetostatic Force-Data and Cam-Data.
Y-axis input-connectors: The top four input-connectors are for the Y-axis of each graph.
X-axis input-connector: The bottom input-connector scales the X-axis. If you do not connect a wire to this connector, the plots are made over one machine cycle, 0 –360.
You can connect any wire with motion-values as the data-type to the bottom input-connector. I nearly always connector a Linear-Motion FB to the X-axis input-connector.
Add and Edit Graph FB dialog-box
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Menu:
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Toolbar:
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Add:
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| 2. | Click again in the graphic-area to 'place' the Graph FB in the graphic-area and the Assembly-Tree |
The Graph FB is now in the graphic-area.
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Edit:
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To open the Graph dialog-box:
| 1. | Double-click a Graph FB icon in the graphic-area or the Assembly-Tree |
or
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The Graph FB dialog-box
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 Y–axis Scales:
| • | A 'Y-Scale' for each graph plot and connected input – from left to right, Y1 to Y4 |
| • | The colour of the Y–axis scale and the graph are the same. |
 Y–axis data set [Drop-Down list] See also Y–axis Display Options
| • | The Data-Set in the drop-down list is a function of the FB connected to the Graph DB |
| • | Each FB has three data parameters in the data-set. Thus, you can plot three different parameters with each input. |
Note: To simultaneously plot all three parameters, drag a wire 3 times from the same FB to three different input-connectors on the Graph FB, and use drop-down list to select each parameter.
 Digital Readout (DRO):
| • | The X–axis and the Y1 to Y4 axis values at the position of the vertical red pointer . |
| • | The colour of the numerical values are the same as the line-colour of each Y–axis graph |
 The Graph Area:
| • | The colour-coded graphs for each Y–axis input |
| • | A Vertical Red 'pointer' |
The 'Vertical Red Pointer' AND the 'jump' to where you click in the graph area, and also to where you 'Drag' your mouse pointer.
 Toolbar:
| • | Save, Print, Graph Settings, Zoom Extents, Pan Left, Pan Right, 'Copy Graph Data to Clipboard' – see  below |
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 Vertical Pointer:
When you click in the Graph Area , the Vertical Pointer will snap to your mouse Pointer.
When you drag your pointer in the graphic-area:
| • | the Vertical Cursor will move with your Pointer |
| • | the Digital Readouts will continuously update to be the same as the data values at the position of the pointer along the X–axis |
| • | the Master Machine Angle will continuously update to be the same as the position of the Vertical Red Pointer along the X–axis |
| • | the kinematically-defined Chains will move to agree with the Master Machine Angle |
 Copy Graph Data to Clipboard
| • | When you click the right-most tool/icon in the toolbar above the Graphs, the graph data is copied to the Clipboard. |
Paste this Data to Excel, or to MotionDesigner in the Data-Transfer table, where you can plot it as an overlay.
You do not need to copy the data to the clipboard - simply Paste the data immediately after the data shows in the table.
If necessary, change the Number-Format for the data in Application Settings | Number Format tab.
Why are the Y–axis values given by the DRO slightly different to values of Vectors I can see in the graphic-area?
The values may be slightly different because, in the graph, the X–axis and Y–axis values at the DRO must jump from 'machine -step' to 'machine-step', with each step found by the Number-of-Steps' parameter in the Machine Settings dialog-box.
In the graphic area, the vector values are calculated for the value of the , which may not coincide with a 'machine step'.
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Y-Axis Display Options:
The 'Y-Axis Data Set' are given in the drop-down at the right of the graph dialog-box.
If you want to show more than one of the data options for one of the FBs listed below, then you must drag a wire from the same output-connector to different input-connectors on the Graph FB.
You can plot:
| o | The three Data-Types available at the output-connector of a FB |
| o | To trouble-shoot. For example, the motion given to a Rocker or Slider is not as you expect. |
| o | To learn how FBs transform the motion data. |
| o | Linear or angular position |
| o | Linear or angular velocity |
| o | Linear or angular acceleration |
| o | Linear or angular position |
| o | Linear or angular velocity |
| o | Linear or angular acceleration |
| o | Pressure Angle.
You can plot three Pressure Angles – See |
| o | Cam Radius-of-Curvature.
You can plot Radii-of-Curvature 1 and 2 for Cam 1 and Cam 2. |
The output form a Force-Data FB is a function of the element with which it is linked.
See Force-Data FB dialog-box
If you link a Force-Data FB to a:
| o | Pin-Joint with a Motor, you can plot Motor Drive Torque. |
| o | Slide-Joint with a Motor, you can plot Motor Drive Linear Force |
| o | Joint without a Motor, plot |
| ▪ | Total Force [ FT = √(FX2 + FY2), or |
| ▪ | Force along the X-coordinate of a Point: FX |
| ▪ | Force along the Y-coordinate of a Point: FY |
| o | 2D-Cam, you can plot the Cam Contact Force |
| o | Spring FB: you can plot the Total Force, the X Force and the Y Force acting on the Point. |
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