The Parent to Child hierarchy is as follows

MODEL > PLANE > MECHANISM > PARTS > (sketch-loop) > (Auto)PROFILE > EXTRUSION and HOLE

There are a number of elements that must 'co-exist' to create Extrusions for Solid Modelling. It is helpful to understand the:

•Commands that you need to use
•Actions that MechDesigner adds to the model for you.

Command 1:

Add sketch-elements: Lines, Cad-Lines, Arcs, Circles to become a sketch-loop

- or -

Add Polyline: to a 2D-Cam or a Gear-Pair

MechDesigner
➔

Sketch-Loops:

...are recognized by MechDesigner when sketch-elements are added as a sketch-loop

Command 2:
➔

Add Profile:

Select a sketch-element that is in a sketch-loop

MechDesigner

➔

Extrusions:

Added with a Profile

Command 3:


➔

Add Holes: Through Extrusions

Notes:

1.We do not show a sketch-loop as an element in the Geometry-Tree
2.We do not show the sketch-elements in the Geometric-Tree. Click a constraint to see the sketch-element in the Selection-Window.
3.Auto-Profiles and Profiles have slightly different properties:

You can delete a Profile. The sketch-loop stays in the Part-Editor.

You cannot delete an Auto-Profile with the delete key or command.

To remove an Auto-Profile you must:

•For the Complete Mechanism: De-select the Auto-Profiles

- or -

•For individual Auto-Profiles: Use the Add / Remove Auto-Profile

The sketch-loop is also deleted.

See Tutorial 4

See also How to add sketch-loops

ProfileContours

Information:

•A Sketch-Loop is series of sketch-elements1s-red, joined end-to-end, or a Circle, added to a Part.
•The Sketch-Loop cannot have branches - 'T-bars'
•The Sketch-Loop cannot cross itself - 'Figure-of-Eights'.
•Sketch-Elements and Sketch-Loops do NOT show in the Assembly-Tree.
•To add a Profile, select a Sketch-Loop1s-red, to define the shape - called the contour - of the Profile
•The Profile is two contours: the Primary Contour2s and the Secondary Contour3s.
•The Profile contours are offset from each other, they can only be offset along the Z-axis of the Part; the Secondary Contour is always at a more positive Z-axis value (it is in-front of the Primary Contour when viewed from the 'Front' view).
•The Extrusion4s simply fills the space between the Primary and Secondary Contours of the Profile.
•Extrusions have a few more properties: visibility, density, colour, opacity, etc.
•The location of the Profile contours are edited with the Extrusion dialog-box.
•You can sketch many Sketch-Loops in each Part - hence Add many Profile and Extrusions
•You can supply many Profiles from one Sketch-Loop - each with different offsets
•You can use a sketch-loop to cut a hole through an Extrusion

AddProfile1-2a

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