MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > Dialogs > Dialog: Model / Mechanism Options

Model / Mechanism Options

Use the Model-Options dialog to confirm the file-name and path of CAD-Solids that you have imported onto CAD-Lines - see Synchronize CAD-Files tab

Also, use the Model-Options dialog to change the lighting of the graphics-area - see Lighting tab

Terminology:

CAD-Solid :

A CAD model that you have imported onto a CAD-Line - see CAD-Line dialog

How to open the Model Options dialog

1.Double-click the Model or Mechanism element in the Assembly-Tree

1.Right-click the Model or Mechanism element at the top of the Assembly-Tree

2.Click Edit element in the shortcut menu

The Model Options dialog is now open.

Model Options dialog.

Model Options dialog

There are two tabs.

Synchronize CAD Files

There is a list of the CAD-Solids that you have imported onto CAD-Lines with the CAD-Line dialog.

Background

CAD-Solid: the term for a 3D CAD model that you have imported onto a CAD-Line.

You can import CAD-Solids:

•directly from SolidWorks (see CAD-Line dialog > SOLIDWORKS tab), or

•as an STL file (see CAD-Line dialog > STL Import tab).

CAD files you save to disc have a time-stamp.

When you open the Model Option dialog, we compare for you:

•The Time-stamp at the time you linked it to the CAD-Line

•The Time-stamp of the CAD file that is on disc.

CAD models:

If you have imported a CAD-Solid onto a CAD-Line, we list for you:

Element-Name

The CAD-Line , with a status icon:

- the CAD file on your hard-drive is newer than SolidWorks document on the CAD-Line.

- the CAD file is not on your hard-drive in the place expected

- the time-stamp is the same as that of the CAD file on your hard-drive.

SOLIDWORKS CAD File name

The CAD file is either:

- Not found on your hard drive

- Found on your hard drive

STL File name

The STL file that has a link to the CAD-Line.

We check for you that the STL file is in the path, as expected.

Model Option dialog

Control Buttons:

Use the control buttons to re-import or find SolidWorks files if they are not up-to-date.

Synch. all files

1.Click Synch. all files button to check you have the most up-to-date SolidWorks files.

The files import again, if needed.

Synchronize Selected Files

In the Element Name list:

1.CTRL + Click each of the CAD-Line that you want to make sure has the latest CAD-Solid

2.Click Synch. Selected Files

We re-import for you the files on each CAD-Line you select.

Find Selected File

1.Click a CAD-Line in the list

2.Click Find Selected File... button

3.Browse to find a file that MechDesigner cannot find.

Lighting

Group Lights Editor

Model Options > Lighting tab

The sliders control those Affected Lights that have a check in the check-box

1.Click each Affected Light check-box to make lights active.

2.Use the sliders to change their:

•Ambient, Diffuse, and Specular Light Levels

2.Move your mouse-pointer over the graphics-area to update the lighting

Note:

It is frequently better to decrease Ambient Light Levels, and increase Diffuse and Specular Light Levels to view MD-Solids and CAD-Solids.

Individual Light Editor

To turn on or off each light and to control its source point:

1.Use the drop-down box to select a light (Light 1 to 6)

2.Click the check-box to turn the light that is in the drop-down list on or off.

3.Enter numbers into the X, Y, Z and W Position boxes to change the direction of the light in the drop-down box.

•±X, ±Y ±Z directions for each light

•W - not sure how this works!

4.Move your mouse-pointer over the graphics-area to update the lighting

An External link to Light : Good Luck!