Forces toolbar > Add Spring FB

Menu :

Add menu > Forces sub-menu > Add Spring FB

Dialog-Box :

Spring FB dialog-box.

How to add :

1.Click Forces toolbar > Add Spring FB

2.Click, in the graphic-area, two different Points in two different Parts.

The Spring FB and its symbol are now in the graphic-area.

The Points you select for the spring are its Anchor Points.

Spring FB : symbols in graphic-area.

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

Symbol : FB - see also Spring FB connectors

Symbol : Spring between the anchor-points

Symbol : Dimension between the anchor-points.

Spring FB Connectors

Output-Connectors

•Top: Distance, Velocity, Acceleration of the dimension between the anchor-points.

•Bottom: Total Force, Force-X, Force-Y between the anchor-points.

Input-Connectors - see more at Spring FB dialog-box

•Add a user-defined Force Function

•The data-values at the input-connector to the Spring must be Force units, (SI Newtons).

•Convert any data-type and units with a Maths FB, and use Force as the Output Data Type.

•Positive (Negative) value will Pull (Push) the Anchor Points together (apart).

Spring FB in the graphic-area.

The Spring FB can be in three different states:

State 1: Active Spring FB

This is the default state.

State 2: Disabled Spring FB

To disable the Spring FB,

1.Edit the Spring FB to open the Spring FB dialog-box

2.Deselect the Enable Check-box.

3.Click to close the dialog-box.

State 3: Linear Motor

To enable the Spring as a Linear-Motor:

1.Edit a Kinematic-Chain to open the Configure Power Source dialog-box

2.Click the Motion-Dimension FB that applies to the kinematic-chain

3.Click the Spring as the Power Source, and it becomes a Linear Motor.

4.Close the Configure Power Source dialog-box.

See Configure Power Source