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Mechanism | Add Trace-Point

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What is a Trace-Point?

A Trace-Point shows, on the Mechanism-Plane, the locus of a moving Point for one machine-cycle.

With special conditions, you can drag the Point in the Mechanism-Editor so that the Trace-point updates.

Add Trace-Point

Kinematic Elements Toolbar : Add Trace-Point [left of graphics-area]

Menu :

Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Add Trace-Point

What to do :

1.	Click Add Trace-Point

2.	Click a Point in the graphic-area

If the Select Elements dialog-box opens, you have clicked more than one Point. The Points may be coincident, but you must select one Point.

a.	Click a Point in the Select Elements dialog-box

b.	Click to close the Select Elements dialog-box

then...

3.	Click in the Command-Manager

Do Steps 1-3 again and again to show Trace-Point of other Points, as necessary.

See Special Condition below.

Result :

You should see the 'Trace of the Point' relative to the Base-Part on the Mechanism Plane.

NOTES :

The Trace-Point will only show:

•	when the Point is part of a kinematically-defined Part , and

•	Auto-Rebuild is active, and

•	the Point moves.

Video:

'Expand' then 'Play'

How to...

Add a Trace-Point

More Notes:

•	You can add many Trace-Points to the same and different Parts.

•	You will not see the trace of the Point if the Point does not move!

•	Other terms for Trace-Point include Locus, Curve, Path, Trajectory, Trace and Coupler Curve.

It is possible that the trace-point does not complete its closed path in one cycle of the MMA (a machine-cycle). In this case, use a Gearing FB to increase the number-of-cycles each kinematic-chain cycles within one MMA [machine cycle].

If you want to add a Trace-Point to show the motion of a Point in a moving Part relative to a different moving Part [that is, not relative to the Mechanism-Plane or the Base-Part] you must add a 2D-Cam and then show its Pitch-Circle.

Special Condition

As a special condition, you can Drag Points in the Mechanism-Editor if all of these conditions are met:

IF in the Part-Editor:

a.	You use Part-Editor > Add Point [The Point cannot be a child to a different sketch-element]

b.	You do not add a dimension or a constraint to the Point

AND IF in the Mechanism-Editor:

c.	You add a Trace-Point to the Point

To Drag the Point more easily:

•	Reduce the Number-of-Steps to '30' in the Machine Setting dialog-box

- or -

•	Drag the Point and then keep the mouse-pointer very still until the Trace-Point moves

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