<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation: MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > Dialog-Boxes > Dialog: Function-Block: Motion-Path |
A Motion-Path FB adds a Motion-Point to a sketch-path.
When you connect a wire to the input-connector of the Motion-Path FB, the Motion-Point moves along the sketch-path.
The Motion-Path dialog-box allows you to add more Motion-Points, and to distribute them along the sketch-path, control the length of the sketch-path, ... .
Motion-Values have Linear, Rotary, and other units. The units indicate its Data-Type.
When the Data-Type at the input-connector to the Motion-Path FB have:
•Linear units, say mm, the Motion-Point moves by a distance = input (mm)
•Angular units, say degrees, the Motion-Point moves by a distance = input × total length of sketch-path/360 (mm)
The position of the Motion-Point cannot easily not be predicted with other units.
See more Data-Type and Motion-Points
Edit the Motion-Path FB:
The Motion-Path dialog-box is now open. |
Note: Transition Curves tab - information coming with MD16
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To edit the number of Motion-Points along the sketch-path:
Note - If you click the button
To distribute Motion-Points (when # Motion-Points > 1) over a range (length) that is less than the full-range (total-length) of the sketch-path.
When you edit Phase-Range |
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When to edit a Range parameter When you generate more than one Motion-Point the Phase-Range and Linear range parameters specify the extent over which to distribute Motion-Points along the sketch-path. Motion-Points are equally distributed along the Phase-Range and Linear-Range of the sketch-path. The distribution of the Motion-Points is best illustrated with examples. We urge you to experiment. Example
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Phase Offset (deg) Linear Offset (mm)
Example
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Headers: Name | Index | Phase (Read-Only) •Name is the name to identify the Motion-Point If you click on a Motion-Point in the list, it shows as red in the graphic-area. •Index is the # Motion-Point •Phase is the relative displacement along the sketch-path, relative to the fist Motion-Point Display Motion-Point #1 as: You can show the position of Motion-Point #1 on the sketch-path. ◉Show Nothing - nothing shows above the Motion-Point #1 in the graphic-area ◉Show Distance - the linear position of Motion-Point #1 is on the sketch-path ◉Show Phase - the 'angular' position of Motion-Point #1 is on sketch-path. 360 is the total-length of the sketch-path. |
Select a dimension to control the length of the sketch-path that is associated with the Motion-Path FB. The dimension becomes the Control-Dimension. Important
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OR To control the length of the Motion-Path with a Dimension:
When you do not want to control the length of the Motion-Path with a dimension:
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Read Only Parameters
Target Path Length
Control-Dimension Min
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Note 1: Control-Dimension The control-dimension should be:
The control-dimension should NOT be:
Note 2: Target Path-Length Edit the Target Path-Length with small increments. If the Actual Path Length does not change, see Note 3 Note 3: Control-dimension min and/or MAX Message in Feedback-Area: ![]() The default values for the Control-Dimension Min or Max are such that the Actual-Path Length can be equal to the Target Path Length. However, it is possible that the Root-Finding Math is confused! •Increase or decrease the Control-Dimension Min/MAX , then try to edit the Target-Path-Length again. •You may need to edit these values to be almost equal to the actual length of the Control-Dimension. |
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The Belt-Tooth-Pitch does not change the belt length. The diameter of a Pulley is a function of the number of teeth AND Belt Tooth-Pitch. |
The position of the Motion-Points along the sketch-path is a function of the Data-Type at the input-connector to the Motion-Path FB. The Data-Type at the input-connector must be Linear or Rotary. Data-Type = Linear
Data-Type = Rotary
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Motion FB > Output Data-Type Set Output-Data-Type as Rotary or Linear. See also Motion FB dialog-box Linear-Motion FB > Output Data-Type The Output Data-Type is Rotary Math FB > Output Data-Type Set Output Data-Type as Rotary Coordinates or Linear Coordinates. See also Math FB |