Auto-Profile and Auto-Profiles
These two commands - in the Solids toolbar - add sketch-loops and Auto-Profiles to Parts.
There is a difference between the two commands:
•Add Auto-Profile will add a sketch-loop and an Auto-Profile element to one Part that you select in the Mechanism-Editor.
•Add Auto-Profiles will add a sketch-loop and an Auto-Profile element to all of the Parts in the Mechanism-Editor.
•If you do Auto-Profile again, and select a Part that has an Auto-Profile, you remove the Auto-Profile and sketch-loop from the Part.
•If you do Auto-Profiles again, and if more than 50% of the Parts have Auto-Profiles, you will remove the Auto-Profiles and sketch-loops from the Parts.
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Commands and Auto-Profiles
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Solids menu (or toolbar) > Add Auto-Profile
Solids menu (or toolbar) > Add Auto-Profiles
Solids menu (or toolbar) > Auto Layer (for use with Auto Profiles) |
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To see the MD-Solids in the graphic-area you must use make active: |
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Visibility menu > Show Solids in Mechanism |
Use the Auto-Profiles and Auto-Layer commands
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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. |
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STEP 2: Add Auto-Profiles to all of the Parts. Click Solids toolbar > Auto-Profiles |
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The Auto-Profiles and sketch-loops are added to each Part (and the Base-Part) in the Mechanism-Editor. In the image, the new Auto-Profiles are PINK. STEP 3: Show the Extrusions in the Mechanism-Editor. Click Visibility toolbar > Show Solids in Mechanism Now you should also be able to see the Extrusions. |
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STEP 4: Click the Model tab
STEP 5: Spin the model to see the Extrusions. View toolbar > Spin tool STEP 6: Layer the Profiles/Extrusions Click Solids Toolbar > Auto-Layer The Auto-Profiles elements move in the Z-axis direction so that the Extrusions become layered. Each Auto-Profile and 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 and/or Part-Offset. |
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In summary: Add Auto-Profiles: •Adds a sketch-loop to each Part. •Adds a Profile and Extrusion to each sketch-loop. •The default Extrusion-Offset and Part-Offset 0 - ( see Extrusion dialog-box) Thus, the Primary Contour of each Auto-Profile is on the Mechanism-Plane. Do Auto-Layer to move the Primary-Contour of each Auto-Profile by a different distance from the Mechanism-Plane. |
Video of the Auto-Profile command
Add Auto-Profiles to a Kinematic-Chain |
