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Step 1.1: Add a New Mechanism-Editor

Contents

Objective of this Step

1.	Use the Add Mechanism toolbar command to add a new Mechanism-Editor. We must always add at least one Mechanism-Editor.

2.	Review the Command-Manager

3.	Learn how to clear [to 'clear' is to remove the elements, so that you can select different elements] elements from the selection-box[s] in the Command-Manager

4.	Rename the new Mechanism-Editor element.

One sentence summary:

We build kinematic-chains* in Mechanism-Editors.

Thus, we must add a new Mechanism. We add the new Mechanism to a Plane.

When we add a new Mechanism [element], we jump to, and then work in the Mechanism-Editor name-tab

See Editors for a summary of the three different editors.

* 'Mechanism' and 'linkage' are other names for 'kinematic-chain'.

Video

Tutorial 1: STEP 1.1

Add Mechanism to a Plane

Step by Step:

Add a New Mechanism-Editor

We must select a Plane for the new Mechanism-Editor. To see all three of the standard Planes in the graphic-area, we must spin the model.

GA-NewModel

In the image above, you can see the:

Red, Green and Blue arrows, that are in the X,Y,Z-axis directions.

Three fixed Planes

Model name-tab, at the top of the graphic-area

Model Contextual Toolbar, to the left of the graphic-area

To spin the model:

1.	Click in the Selection-Window

2.	Move your mouse-pointer to the graphic-area

3.	Use the left, right, up & down arrow-keys on your keyboard

, , ,

- or -

1.	Click View menu or View toolbar > Zoom \| Spin

- or -

1.	SHIFT+DRAG with your mouse-pointer.

Model Toolbar

STEP 1:

Click Model toolbar > Add Mechanism

- or -
Click Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Model sub-menu > Add Mechanism

The Model toolbar is vertical and to the left of the graphic area.

The Command-Manager starts the Add-Mechanism command.

CM-AddMechanism-0

Generally, the Command-Manager has three areas:

The actual command name with an instruction:

o	Add Mechanism ; Add new Mechanism-Editor]

One or more selection-box with a short hint above, an icon to its left and an icon to its right

o	One selection-box, with hint: Select a Plane, the icon to the left is

o	The icon to the right is before, and after, an element is in the selection-box.

The [OK], [Cancel], and [Clear] buttons below the selection-box.

CM-AddMechanism-Plane

STEP 2:

Click a Plane in the graphic-area
- or -
Click a Plane in the Assembly-Tree

When a Plane shows in the selection-box.

•	the to the right of the selection-box becomes a

When the correct Plane is in the selection-box:

STEP 3:

Click

below the selection-box
- or -
Right-click the graphic-area

You 'jump' to the new Mechanism-Editor.

Menu toolbar > Add Mechanism is complete.

TOP-TIP: before you click you can may select a different element.

To select a different element, you MUST clear : 'to remove' the active element from the selection-box

To clear element[s] from the selection-box[s]:

1.	Click in a selection-box [ in image 2 above]

- or -

1.	Click the Clear buttons below the selection-boxes

Now the selection-box is clear again you can select a different element.

The new Mechanism-Editor

Notes:

The active editor is the new Mechanism-Editor

The rectangle is the Base-Part Part-Outline. It is the symbol for the frame that is fixed in the new Mechanism-Editor.

The Mechanism name-tab is at the top of the graphic-area

The Kinematic elements toolbar and Machine elements toolbar are collapsed and to the left of the graphic-area.

The Kinematic-FB toolbar is to the right of the graphic-area.

The graphic-area is coplanar with the Mechanism-Plane

The origin [0,0] X-axis and Y-axis of the Base-Part are also the origin of the Mechanism-Editor and Mechanism-Plane.

The Cursor (also called 'mouse', or 'pointer') changes to a 'Mechanism'.

Optionally: Rename your new Mechanism

It is possible to rename all elements.

SW-Rename-Mech

To rename the Mechanism element:

STEP 1:

Right-click the Mechanism element in the Assembly-Tree, [or Selection-Window after you click it in the Assembly-Tree]

A small contextual-menu opens - see image

STEP 2:

Click Rename element in the contextual-menu

Rename dialog-box

The Rename Element dialog-box opens.

It shows the Old Name as 'Mechanism'. The Old Name is 'read only'.

The default New Name is: '-1'.

STEP 3:

Enter a name with your keyboard in the New Name box

For example, 'My New Mechanism'.

STEP 4:

Click the

button.

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