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Function-Block | Point-Data

Contents

Why use a Point-Data Function-Block?

The Point FB measures, with respect to the Mechanism Plane, and provides at its output-connectors, the motion of a Point.

Its three output-connectors give the Point's:

•	X–axis motion-values

•	Y–axis motion-values

and the

•	Magnitude of the Point's motion-values

The magnitude equals:

o	√(X2 + Y2) with X and Y equal to the position, velocity or acceleration.

Motion-values are the Point's Position, Velocity, and its Acceleration.

The Point must be a child to a kinematically-defined Part.

Point-Data FB

Kinematics FB toolbar > Point-Data FB [right of Graphic-Area >>]

Menu:

Add menu > Add Point-Data FB

Dialog-Box:

Point-Data FB dialog-Box [see also 'below']

How to Add:

STEP 1: Add the Point-Data Function-Block to the graphic-area

1.	Click Kinematics FB Toolbar > Point-Data FB

2.	Click again in the graphic-area

The Point-Data FB is now in the graphic-area.

How to Edit:

STEP 2: Open the Point-Data FB dialog-box:

1.	Double-click a Point-Data FB in the graphic-area

- or -

1.	See How to Open a Dialog-Box

Point-Data FB - Open

STEP 3: Add a Point to the selection-box

1.	Click a Point in the graphic-area.

The Point element should now be in the selection-box

To change the Point in the selection-box, then:

1.	Click a different Point in the graphic-area.

STEP 4: Close the Point-Data FB

1.	Click the to close Point-Data FB.

The motion-values of the Point are now available at the output-connector of the Point-Data FB.

Point-Data FB - Point in selection-box

How to Use:

There are three different ways to use the motion-values at the output-connector of a Point-Data FB:

1.	To plot the Linear or Angular Position, Velocity and Acceleration of the Point with a Graph FB.

2.	As the motion-values at the input-connector of a different FB to 'drive' the motion of a different kinematic-chain. The motion-values from the Measurement FB become the independent variable, rather than a Linear-Motion FB.

3.	As the motion-value at the input-connector of a Motion-Dimension FB, for a Rocker or Slider. The Rocker or Slider moves with the motion as given by the Point-Data FB.

Note: Options 2 & 3: a message in the Feedback area: '1 Mechanism dependencies detected'. You should rebuild the model when the number of dependencies becomes more than 1 if the data is critical, before you use the data for a Cam, for example.

Notes:

Top-Tip

To plot the X or Y position, velocity and acceleration of a Point in the same graph.

1.	Drag a wire from the same output-connector of the Point-Data FB three times to three different input-connectors on a Graph FB,

2.	Use the Y–axis display options in the Graph dialog-box to display all motion derivatives.