Dialog: Machine-Settings

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Dialog: Machine-Settings

Machine-Settings

Use the Machine-Settings dialog to edit the Machine Speed, Number-of-Steps that we evaluate all kinematic and kinetostatic data in a machine-cycle, and to edit the Engineering Units.

tog_minusHow to open the Machine-Settings dialog

MD-Icon-MachineSettings

Click Edit toolbar > Machine-Settings

OR

Click Edit menu > Machine-Settings

MD-17-MenuCommand-Machine-Settings

The Machine-Settings dialog is now open.

Machine Settings dialog

Machine Settings dialog

Machine Settings dialog

Click to exapand /collapse Cycling Parameters 
Cycling Parameters

Cycling Parameters

Cycles ∕ Min: (RPM) ( See also Note 1 )

RPM - Revolutions per Minute.

It is the model's Simulation-Speed.

It is the rate-of-change of the Master-Machine-Angle.

MotionDesigner reads and uses this parameter. For example:

Degrees: A Motion-Width of 360º is one machine cycle in degrees

Seconds: A Motion-Width of (60/RPM) is one machine-cycle in seconds

Number-of-Steps: ( See also Note 2 )

Number of calculation points in a machine-cycle.

Notes:

•number-of-steps and Cam Accuracy - no relationship

Do not increase the number-of-steps to increase the accuracy of a Cam.

Use the Cam-Coordinates dialog to calculate and save a Cam with any number of points and accuracy.

•Number-of-Steps is the number of facets along a Cam in the graphics-area

•Number-of-Steps is the number of data-points along a graph - see Graph FB

•Number-of-Steps is the number of facets along the curve of a Trace-Point - see Trace-Point

•Number-of-Steps is the number of points/dots on the Motor Torque and Speed Curves

•Usually, 120 is good. More than 360 is not usually needed.

See also: Run menu > Step Forward / Step Backward

Click to exapand /collapse Engineering Units 
Engineering Units

Engineering Units

Engineering Units : ( See also Note 3 )

Linear:

mm, cm, meters, inch.

Rotary:

deg, radians, cycles

Force:

N, lbf (pound-force)

Torque:

N.m, N.mm, ft.lbf

Stress:

Pa(N ∕ m2), MPa(N ∕ mm2), PSI(lbf ∕ in2).

Mass:

kg, gms (grams), lb, oz
Click to exapand /collapseMore about Machine Settings parameters.

Note 1:

Cycles ∕ Min does not change the animation-speed.

Change the animation-speed with the Animation Speed Slider.

Note 2:

Do NOT increase Machine-Settings >Number-of-Steps to increase the accuracy of a 2D-Cam! Use the Cam-Coordinates dialog to increase the accuracy of a 2D-Cam you export for manufacture.

Number-of-Steps = 120 is ideal. 360 should be the maximum, for nearly all models.

To move the model with small steps (increments), we recommend you use the Spin-Box in the Master Machine Angle.

Note 3:

If you change the dimension units, you do not change the size of the model.

For example: 100 mm is 3.94 inches if you change dimension units from mm to inches.

For example: 100 degrees is 1.75 radians if you change dimension units from degrees to radians.

In all cases, we do not show you the units in the graphics-area.