Model | Add Mechanism (Editor)

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Model | Add Mechanism (Editor)

What is a Mechanism?

A Mechanism, in the context of Add Mechanism, is a Mechanism-Editor with a Name-tab.

You add Mechanism-Editors to different Planes to model kinematic-chains (mechanisms, linkages), to design your machine.

You must use the Model-Editor to add a minimum of one(1) Mechanism-Editor.

IMPORTANT: Gravitational Vector ( g = 9.81665 m/s/s )

MD-GRAVITY-VECTOR

Gravity Vector is in the negative Y-axis direction (down the from the Green Arrowhead in the Model-Editor.

Before you add the first Mechanism-Editor, to a Plane, consider the type of machine.

For example, if your machine has a horizontal indexing or rotating table, add the first Mechanism-Editor for the table to the Top Plane, or a Plane that is parallel to the Top Plane.

Add Mechanism

Model elements toolbar

Model elements toolbar

STEP 1:Start the Add Mechanism command:

2.Click Add menu > Add Mechanism

OR

2.Click Model elements toolbar > Add Mechanism

The Command-Manager has one selection-box.

Command-Manager - no elements

Command-Manager - no elements

STEP 2: Select a Plane

1.Click a Plane in the graphic-area

or

2.Click a Plane in the Assembly-Tree

The Plane is now in the selection-box.

STEP 3: Complete the command

1.Click in the Command-Manager

Result

You jump immediately to the new Mechanism-Editor.

Command-Manager - with Plane element

Command-Manager - with Plane element

RESULT: the new Mechanism-Editor

Graphic-Area of new Mechanism-Editor

Front-View of the Mechanism-Editor

Front-View of the new Mechanism-Editor.

: Base-Part - the frame of the Mechanism-Editor. It has a rectangular Green Part-Outline

( See also: The Base-Part does not show correctly? )

: Mechanism name-tab

: Toolbars (left and right of the graphic-area)

: Graphic-Area

: Local XY-axes of the NEW Mechanism-Editor and Base-Part

It use the right hand rule. The:

•+X–axis is horizontal, to the right ( > ).

• +Y–axes is vertical, and upwards ( ^ ).

•+Z–axis is towards you (◎)

NEW Mechanism-Editor - and the Assembly-Tree

Assembly-Tree and the new Mechanism-Editor

Assembly-Tree and the new Mechanism-Editor

The hierarchy of the new elements

•Mechanism2 - is a child to Plane4

•BasePart2 - is a child to Mechanism2.

The XY-axes of Plane4, Mechanism2, and Base-Part2 are coplanar and coincident.

Video

The Base-Part does not show correctly!

The Base-Part is not Green

Base-Part with Forces ON

Base-Part with Forces ON

The Base-Part is a Random color.

If the Base-Part is a not Green:

Forces toolbar > Force Vectors: Display to display the Force Vectors.

When this icon is enabled to display Force Vectors, each Part is given a random color.

To make the Part Green, you should:

Click the Force Vectors: Display to not display the Force Vectors

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

I cannot see the Base-Part properly

Base-Part partially hidden by a Plane.

Base-Part partially hidden by a Plane.

The Base-Part is hidden by a Plane.

This is because:

Visibility toolbar > Show Solids in Mechanisms is enabled

When you enable Show Solids in Mechanism-Editors, we also show the Planes.

To hide the Planes:

Click Visibility toolbar > Show Solids in Mechanisms disabled.

OR

Click Display toolbar > Display Planes to Hide Planes

The Base-Part is Pink

MD-BasePart-SketchesOn

MD-BasePart-SketchesOn-ISO

Visibility toolbar > Show other Kinematic and Sketch elements

If you enable this, and another Mechanism-Editor is in front of the active Mechanism-Editor, you see the Pink* Other Base-Part (* default color)

Spin the model to see the Base-Part of the active Mechanism-Editor.

* See Application-Settings > Graphics tab > Display Colors > Background Sketch