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Step 4.2: 'Auto-Profiles' & 'Auto-Layer' commands

Contents

Auto-Profile and Auto-Layer Commands

These commands add a Profile to each Part, for your convenience.

There is a small difference between the two commands::

•	Solids toolbar > Add Auto-Profile: add a sketch-loop and an Auto-Profile element to one Part

•	Solids toolbar > Add Auto-Profiles : add a sketch-loop and an Auto-Profile element to all Parts

•	If you do Auto-Profile again, and select a Part that has an Auto-Profile, you remove the one Auto-Profile.

•	If you do Auto-Profiles again, you remove all Auto-Profiles.

It is best practice to use the Auto-Profile command when the Parts are kinematically-defined Parts (Part-Outlines are Green).

	Add Solids menu (or toolbar) > Add Auto-Profile Add Solids menu (or toolbar) > Add Auto-Profiles Auto Solids menu (or toolbar) > Auto Layer (for use with Auto Profiles)


To see the Solids in the graphic-area you must use make active:
	Visibility menu > Show Solids in Mechanism

Use the Auto-Profiles and Auto-Layer commands

STEP 1:

Complete or open Tutorial 2

The model opens in the Mechanism-Editor.

The Part-Outlines are Green. This means the Parts and kinematic-chain are kinematically-defined.

STEP 2:

Click Solids toolbar > Auto-Profiles
- or -
Click Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Solids sub-menu > Add Auto-Profiles

GA-AutoProfiles

You can see the new Profiles (PINK) in the Mechanism-Editor.

STEP 3:

Click Solids Visibility toolbar > Show Solids in Mechanism
- or -
Click Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Solids sub-menu > Add Auto-Profiles

GA-AutoProfiles-inModelTab

STEP 4:

Click the Model name-tab

Spin your model to see the Extrusions.

QST4-2-4

STEP 5:

View toolbar > Spin tool,

- or -
View menu > Zoom sub-menu > Click Spin
- or -
SHIFT+DRAG
- or -
Click in the Selection-Window and then use you arrow keys on your keyboard (up-down, left-right)

You can see that each Extrusion is extruded from the Mechanism-Plane.

STEP 6:

Click Solids Toolbar > Auto-Layer
- or -
Click Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Solids sub-menu > Auto-Layer

The Auto-Profiles elements move along the Z-axis of the Mechanism-Plane so that the Extrusions become layered.

Each Extrusion moves a different distance from the Mechanism-Plane.

Alternatively, you can edit each Extrusion with the Extrusion dialog-box to edit the Extrusion-Offset or Part-Offset, or the two.

QST4-3-5

In summary: the Auto-Profiles command:

•	Adds a sketch-loop to each Part and and Joint.

•	The default diameters of the sketch-loops at the Joints are given the Application-Settings > Auto-profiles tab for 'Grounded Bearings' and 'Standard Bearings'

•	Add a Profile and Extrusion to each sketch-loop.

•	The Primary Contour of each Auto-Profile is on the Mechanism-Plane.

The Auto-Layer command:

•	You can use Auto-Layer command to move each Auto-Profile a different distance from the Mechanism-Plane.

Video of the Auto-Profile command

'Expand' then 'Play'

How to...

Add Auto-Profiles to the complete Mechanism

Tutorials and Reference Help Files for MechDesigner and MotionDesigner 14.2 + © Machine, Cam, Mechanism, and Motion Design Software by PSMotion Ltd