Elements and Symbols in the Graphic-Area

Planes in the Model-Editor.

The model has three fixed Planes in the Model-Editor.

Model Axes in the Model-Editor

The model shows the fixed Red, Green and Blue axes. They locate the Origin of the Model.

Planes in the Mechanism-Editor.

The axes on each Plane show its orientation.

The smaller Red, Green and Blue axes are the X, Y, and Z-axes, respectively.

The axes intersect at the Origin of the Plane.

Part-Outlines: Added Parts and Base-Part

The Part-Outline is the symbol for a Part.

To edit a Part, you must select the Part-Outline.

•	The Part-Outline symbol for an Added-Part is an oval

•	The Part-Outline symbol for the Base-Part is a rectangle.

Each Part has its local x-axis and y-axis. They are at the start-Point of the Part.

Each added-Part has a CAD-Line from its start-Point to its end-Point.

Part-Outlines:  solved and unsolved Parts

The Part-Outline can have two colours:

•	The Part-Outline is Green when it is a Solved Part. It has zero degrees-of-freedom

Other terms for a Solved Part are a kinematically-defined Part, or a Green Part.

•	The Part-Outline is Blue when it is an Unsolved Part

Other terms for an Unsolved Part are: free Part, and Blue Part.

Pin-Joint in the Mechanism-Editor

When you Add Pin-Joint, you select a Point in two Parts.

The symbol for a Pin-Joint between Points in

•	an Added-Part and the Base-Part is a Position symbol'.

•	two Added-Parts is a circle that is slightly larger than Point symbol

Slide-Joint in the Mechanism-Editor

When you Add Slide-Joint, you select a Line in two Parts.

This symbol for a Slide-Joint between Lines is:

•	a narrow rectangle alongone of the Lines

•	a wide rectangle along the other Line

•	a small arrowhead. It is the 'positive' direction of the slide-joint.

Part-Axes in the Mechanism-Editor

The Part-Axes symbols are 'small' in a Mechanism-Editor.

•	The Axes of the Base-Part are at the Origin of Mechanism-Plane

•	The Axes of an Added-Part are at the start-Point of the CAD-Line.

Part Axes in the Part-Editor

The Part-Axes symbols are 'large' in the Part-Editor.

The length of the CAD-Line maybe longer or shorter than the X-axis.

If you zoom-in, the CAD-Line will appear to become longer relative to the axes.

Point Symbols

•	In the Mechanism-Editor: Points may be Blue (Not solved), or Green (solved)

•	In the Part-Editor: Points may be Blue (Not defined), or Black (defined)

'+' : centre-Points (centre of Arcs and Circles)

'O' : start-point or end-point of Lines or Arcs.

'' : start-Point or end-Point that is coincident with a centre-Point

The 'Locked Point' Symbol

A Vector Symbol

You can show vectors in the graphic-area when you:

Function-Block input-connector and output-connector Symbols

Function-Blocks are a graphical icons that represent their function.

•	The input-connectors are to the left-side of the Function-Blocks.

•	The output-connectors are to the right-side of the Function-Blocks.

•	Wires are from an output-connector to an input-connector.

Motor Symbol

•	When you show Forces, the Motor Symbol that drives a Joint is the 'Power Source'.

•	This image shows the Motor at a Pin-Joint.

Spring

The Spring FB element has three symbols in the graphic-area:

Symbol : FB - see below Spring FB connectors

Symbol : Spring between the anchor-points

Symbol : Dimension between the anchor-points.

Ball-Joint and Connecting-Part Symbol

•	The Ball-Joint has its own symbol.

•	The Connecting-Part symbol replaces the Part-Outline when you join a Part to a different Part with two Ball-Joints.

Mass Symbol

•	Profile Mass: When you add a Profile, the Extrusion has Mass. A small dowel symbol shows at the Centre-of-Mass of each Profile.

•	Total Mass: When you show Forces, the Centre-of-Mass Symbol is a small dowel. The Total Mass is given near to the Centre-of-Mass symbol. The colour of the symbol is the same as the Part-Outline, which becomes a random colour when you Display Forces.

2D-Cam Contact Points

When you add a 2D-Cam, the Contact points between the Cam and the Cam Follower are shown as small dowel symbols.

If these Points do not delete when you delete a cam, then edit the Cam-Part, and delete them.

Motion-Points

The Symbol for a Motion-Point is a small triangle inside a small circle.

The circle is slightly smaller than the standard symbol for a Point.

Gear-Pairs

The Symbol for a Gear is two involute Gears,

The Gear-Pair is a kinematic-element - it transmits motion from its input part to the output-part.

You can edit the number-of-teeth, and other parameters.

Pulleys

The Symbol for a Driving Pulley is a different default colour to a Driven Pulley

See Application Settings Graphics > Display colours.

A Belt can drive the Pullets, or a Pulley can drive the Belt.

The Base-Part is a Random colour.

If the Base-Part is a not Green:

Forces toolbar > Display Forces is Show Force Vectors.

When this icon is set to display Force Vectors, each Part is given a random colour.

To make the Part Green, you should:

Click the Forces toolbar >Display Forces to Hide Force Vectors

When the icon is gray the Base-Part should be Green.

The Base-Part is being hidden by a Plane.

This is because:

Visibility toolbar > Show Model in Mechanism is Show Model

When the Model is being shown in the Mechanism, we also show the Planes.

You can:

Click Visibility toolbar > Show Model in Mechanism to Hide Model

- or -

Click Display toolbar > Display Planes to Hide Planes

The Base-Part is being hidden by the Base-Part in a Mechanism-Editor that is front of the active Mechanism-Editor

Visibility toolbar > Show other Mechanisms is Show Other Mechanism

When this is set to Show Other Mechanisms, it also shows Other Part-Outlines in other Mechanisms, and, if: