Point Position and Vector dialog-box

Use this dialog to:

•Show Velocity and Acceleration Vectors of a Point as you cycle the model.
•Find the exact position of a Point on the Mechanism-Plane, with Mechanism Coordinates (read only).
•Find the position of a Point point on the Part-Plane, with Part Coordinates.
•Edit the position of an Point you have added to the Part, using Part Coordinates.

Note: With this dialog,  you can edit the Point's position ONLY when it does not have any geometric constraint added to it.

[You do not need to open the Part-Editor to edit the position of a Point with this dialog]

To open the Point Position and Vectors dialog box:

In the Selection-Window:

1.Click a Point one time in the graphic-area

The Point should be in the Selection-Window

2.Right-click the Point in the Selection-Window
3.Click 'Edit element' in the contextual-menu

- or -

2.Double-click the Point in the Selection-Window

- or -

In the graphic-area:

1.Double-click a Point in the Mechanism-Editor

- or -

1.Double-click a Point in the Part-Editor

The Point Position and Vectors dialog-box

Dialog-PointPosandVectors

There are three separators:

•Show or Hide Vectors
•Mechanism Coordinates [Read-Only]
•Point Coordinates [Read-Write]

tog_minus        Show or Hide Vectors 

Dialog-PointVectors-VelAccSelected

Velocity and Acceleration Vector check-boxes

If you show the Point's Velocity and Acceleration Vectors, they:

•Start at the Point
•Their length is proportional to their instantaneous velocity and acceleration value
•The velocity and acceleration magnitudes show at the end of each vector.
•Are Blue for Velocity, Red for Acceleration [default colours]

To see the Point's vectors:

•The Point must be a child to a kinematically-defined Part
•The Point must move

VelocityAccelerationVectors

Buttons in the Feedback-Area to change the scale of the Vectors

FA-VectorButtons

 

 

To change the scale and length of the vectors, use the buttons in the Feedback-Area:

•Click the up or down buttons below 'Vel' to edit the Velocity Vector
•Click the up or down button below 'Accel' to edit the Acceleration Vector

tog_minus        Mechanism Coordinates [Read-Only] 

Dialog-PointVectors-MechCoords

The position of the Point is given with X, Y, and Z-axis coordinates that are relative to the Origin of the Base-Part and Mechanism-Plane.

The X, Y, and Z boxes are Read-Only.

BasePart-OriginThe Origin [0,0] of the Mechanism-Plane is at the small 0,0 of the Base-Part., which is indicated by the small X- and Y-axis arrows.

tog_minus        Point Coordinates [Read-Write] 

Dialog-PointVectors-PartCoords-0

The position of the Point is given by it x and y-axis coordinates that are relative to the Origin of the Part with which the Point is associated.

Lock and Edit Point's Position.

There are two states

• Lock and edit here
• Edit in Part Editor

To edit the position of the Point using the x: and y: data-boxes in this dialog,

1.Click the check-box 'Lock and Edit here'.

Notes:

•If you use Lock and Edit Here, you will not be able to edit it in the Part-Editor.
•This option over-rides any dimensions or constraints you have used in the Part-Editor.

 

Dialog-PointVectors-PartCoords-1

To lock the position of the Point using the data-boxes in this dialog,

1.Click the check-box 'Edit in Part-Editor'.

The Point remains 'free' and you can edit it, as normal, in the Part-Editor.

If you use the Lock and Specify check box, you can:

•Enter the Position of the Point along the X–axis of the Part
•Enter the Position of the Point along the Y–axis of the Part
Points that are Locked

Locked Points

The y-axis of an Added-Part is along its CAD-Line. The y-axis of an Added-Part is at +90º to the CAD-Line, on the Part and Mechanism Plane.

The x- and y-axis of the Base-Part is the same as the X– and Y–axis of the Mechanism Plane.

If you edit the position of a Point, MechDesigner over-rides any constraints and dimensions given to the Point in the Part-Editor.

Tutorial and Reference Help Files for MechDesigner and MotionDesigner 13.2 + © Machine, Mechanism, Motion and Cam Design Software by PSMotion Ltd