Dialog: Function-Block: Graph

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Dialog: Function-Block: Graph

Graph FB

see Add Graph FB


Use a Graph FB to plot Kinematic Motion-Data, Kinetostatic Force-Data and Cam-Data.

There are:

4 × Y-axis input: the top four(4) input-connectors.

1 × X-axis input: the bottom input-connector controls the X-axis for all of the graphs.

If you do not connect a wire to the X-axis input-connector, the X-axis is one machine-cycle, 0 – 360.

How to open the Graph Interface

MD-Icon-GraphFB-GA

To open the Graph FB dialog

1.Double-click the Graph FB in the graphics-area.

OR

1.See How to Open a dialog.

The Graph interface is now open.


Graph Interface

Grap dialog/interface

Grap dialog/interface

1r Y–axes: Colors and Scales

There is one Y-axis scale for each wire that you connect to an Y-axis input-connector. Maximum = 4

The Y-axis-scales correspond to each wire that you connect to an input-connectors, from top to bottom.

The color of each Y–axis scale is the same as the graph. Edit the colors with the Graph Setting dialog.

The minimum and maximum of the Y-axis scale are equal to those of the data at the input-connector. Edit the minimum and maximum values for the Y-axis scales with the Graph Setting dialog.

2r Y–axis: Data-Channels (Drop-Down): See also Y–axis Data-Channel Display Options

Each wire that you connect to an input-connector has up to 3 Data-Channels.

1.Click the drop-down arrow to select which Data-Channel to plot for each wire that you connect to an input-connector.

3r Digital Readout (D.R.O.):

The X–axis value and the Y1-axis to Y4-axis values in the Digital Readout are those values of the graph at the position of the vertical cursorRed-14-6

The Number-Format for the X–axis and Y–axis values are configured in Edit menu > Application Settings | Number Format tab.

4r Graph Area:

There is a graph for each wire you connect to a Y-axis input-connector.

5r Graph toolbar:

MD-Dialog-GraphFB-GraphSettings-toolbar

Red-14-1 Save data as

Red-14-2 Print graphs

Red-14-3 Open Graph Settings dialog

Red-14-4 Zoom-Out

Red-14-5 Zoom-In

Red-14-6 Zoom-Extents

Red-14-7 Pan Left

Red-14-8 Pan Right

Red-14-9 Copy Graph Data to Clipboard – see below

6r Vertical-Cursor

When you click or drag your pointer in the graph-areaRed-14-4:

the Vertical-Cursor moves with your pointer

the Digital-ReadoutsRed-14-3 are equal to the X-axis and Y-axis values of the Vertical-Cursor

the Master Machine Angle continuously updates to equal the X-axis value of the Vertical-Cursor

the kinematic-chains that are kinematically-defined move to agree with the Master Machine Angle.

7r Graph Data in Clipboard

To list the graph data-values Red-14-7,

1.Click the right-most icon in the Graph toolbarRed-14-9.

There is one data-point for each Machine Step - see Machine-Settings dialog > Number-of-Steps.

You can Paste the data:

to Excel, or Notepad, ...

to the MotionDesigner Data-Transfer Table

From the Data-Transfer Table, you can paste the data:

as a dumb Overlay-Trace to compare it with a motion

to a Position List, Acceleration List, or Z Raw Data segment-type, and link it to a Motion-Part or Motion-Point.

Y-Axis Data-Channels:

Each wire that you connect to a Graph FB has three(3) data-channels.

Use the drop-down arrow to select which Y-Axis Data-ChannelRed-14-2 to plot for each Y-axis.

The Data-Channels that are available are a function of the Function-Block and wire you connect at the input to the Graph FB.

Data-Channels:

Kinematic Function-Blocks (Linear-Motion, Gearing, Motion, Motion-Dimension) you can plot:

Linear or angular position

Linear or angular velocity

Linear or angular acceleration

Measurement FB or Point-Data FB you can plot:

Linear or angular position

Linear or angular velocity

Linear or angular acceleration

Cam-Data FB

Pressure Angle.
You can plot three Pressure Angles – See Pressure Angle

Radius-of-Curvature.
You can plot the Radii-of-Curvature of the Inner and the Outer Cam.

Contact Cam Force

Maximum Contact Shear Stress.

Sliding-Velocity
Plot the Sliding-Velocity between the Cam-Profile and Follower-Profile for the Inner Cam and the Outer Cam.

Force-Data FB

The output form a Force-Data FB is a function of the element with which it is linked. See Force-Data FB dialog

If you link a Force-Data FB to a:

ŸPin-Joint with a Motor, you can plot the Application Load.

ŸSlide-Joint with a Motor, you can plot the Application Load

ŸJoint that does not have a Motor, you can plot:

Total Force ( FT = √(FX2 + FY2)

Force along the X-coordinate of a Point: FX

Force along the Y-coordinate of a Point: FY

Ÿ2D-Cam: you can plot the Cam Contact Force

ŸSpring FB: you can plot the Total Force, X Force, Y Force acting on the Anchor-Point.

Why are the Y–axis values in the DRORed-14-3 different to the vector-values in the main graphics-area?

The values may be slightly different because, in the graph, the X–axis and Y–axis values at the D.R.O. must jump from 'machine -step' to 'machine-step'. See Machine Settings dialog > Number-of-Steps.

In the graphics-area, the vector values are calculated for the value of the Master Machine Angle, which may not coincide with a machine step.