MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > Dialogs > Dialog: Function-Block: Motion

Motion FB

A Motion FB has one input-connector and one output connector.

A Motion FB is a link to one motion in MotionDesigner.

The value at the input-connector points to the X-axis of the motion.

The value at the output-connector is the Y-axis value of the motion that corresponds to the X-axis value at its input-connector.

Use the Motion FB dialog to select the motion from a list of the Motion-names in MotionDesigner.

How to open the Motion FB dialog

Motion FB

To open the Motion FB dialog

1.Double-click a Motion FB in the graphics-area

1.See How to Open a dialog

The Motion FB dialog is now open.

Motion FB dialog

Motion Parameters

Select Motion

Click the drop-down arrow to select a Motion-name from the motions in MotionDesigner.

Default motion: We select for you the left-most motion from the Motion-name tabs in MotionDesigner.

After each Motion Cycle

A Machine-Cycle is one cycle of the Master-Machine Angle from 0 to 360.

You can increase the motion-values.

If the X-axis of the motion-design is from 0 to 360, and the Y-axis is a progressive (indexing) motion of one index, then if

◉Reset Output: (default)

Output from Motion FB at Machine-Cycle #N = Output of Machine-Cycle #1

◉Accumulate Output:

Output from Motion FB #N = Output of Motion FB #1 + Output at end of Motion x #N

Output Data-Type

◉ Motion (default, for Rockers and Sliders)

◉ Linear *

◉ Rotary *

* You must select Linear or Rotary if you connect a wire from the Motion FB to a Motion-Path FB or a Math FB.

Notes :

Usually, the motion-values at the input to a Motion FB increases at a constant rate from 0 to 360, again and again.

However, the motion-values at the input may increase, decrease, and stay at a constant value, within one machine-cycle.

For example, the motion-data at the input to a Motion FB can be from:

•a different Motion FB, or

•a Point-Data FB, or

•a Measurement FB,

... in which case the motion-values can increase and decrease.

Pattern

Ignore this separator

Query

Enter Y-axis value

The values in the box (below) are the X-axis values that relate to the Y-axis value for the Selected Motion - see Motion Parameters

Note:

If we cannot find an X-axis value from the Y-axis value that you enter, we will report “Failed to find Root : Possibly outside Y Range” at the bottom of the Motion FB dialog.

Also in the Message area, we will report Topic: get x-value failure ; Message: Failed to find root

"Reset" or "Accumulate" after each Motion-Cycle?

We can explain with an example.

1.Design an Indexing Motion in MotionDesigner with two Segments:

Segment 1: Index (X-axis: 0-240 ; Y-axis: 0-90)

Segment 2: Dwell (X-axis: 240-360 ; Y-axis: 90)

2.Connect a Linear-Motion FB to a Gearing FB

3.Connect the Gearing FB to a Motion FB

4.Connect the Motion FB to a Motion-Dimension FB that controls a rotating Motion-Part (Rocker).

5.Edit the Base-Value in the Motion-Dimension dialog to 0º.

6.Edit the Motion FB:

•Select the Indexing Motion (see 1, above)

•Select Reset as the After each motion-cycle parameter

7.Edit the Gearing FB:

•Enter Gearing Ratio = 4 (enter 4 because the motion is 0 to 90, and 4 × 90 = 360)

8.Cycle the model with ALT+C on your keyboard.

Result:

As the MMA increases from 0 to 360, the:

•output motion-values from the Gearing FB increase from 0 to 1440 ( Gearing Ratio × 360 )

•output motion-values from the Motion FB increase from 0 to 90, and jumps to 0

Therefore, the indexing-shaft (Rocker) jumps to 0º four times, at the end of each machine-cycle, after it rotates to 90º.

9.Edit the Motion FB.

•Select Accumulate as the After each motion-cycle parameter.

10.Cycle the model with ALT+C on your keyboard.

Result:

As the MMA increases from 0 to 360, the:

•output from the Gearing FB increases from 0 to 1440 ( Gearing Ratio(4) × 360 )

•indexing-shaft indexes 4 times: from 0 to 90, 90 to 180, 180 to 270, and 270 to 360.