Step 4.2: Auto-Profile, Auto-Profiles, & Auto-Layer commands

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Step 4.2: Auto-Profile, Auto-Profiles, & Auto-Layer commands

Extrusions, Profiles, Auto-Profile, and Auto-Profiles

A Profile is two offset-contours that are copies of a sketch-loop. We add the two contours for you when you do Add Profile, Add Auto-Profile, or Add Auto-Profiles.

At the same time as you add Profile and Auto-Profile elements, we also add for you the Extrusion element. The Extrusion is the MD-Solid that is between the two Profile contours.

•To edit the shape of the Profile you must edit the shape of the sketch-loop.

•To edit the Extrusion-Depth, Extrusion-Offset, color, density, ... you must edit the Extrusion with the Extrusion dialog.

•To see the two Profile contours, spin the model.

•To see the Extrusion you must enable Show Solids in Mechanisms.

Commands and Auto-Profiles

These commands - in the Solids toolbar - add sketch-loops and Auto-Profiles to Parts.

GST-Icon-AutoProfile

Solids menu (or toolbar) > Add Auto-Profile

To add a sketch-loop and an Auto-Profile element to one Part that you select in the Mechanism-Editor.

If you do Auto-Profile to a Part that has an Auto-Profile, you remove the Auto-Profile and sketch-loop from the Part.

GST-Icon-AutoProfiles

Solids menu (or toolbar) > Add Auto-Profiles

To add a sketch-loop and an Auto-Profile element to all of the Parts in the Mechanism-Editor.

If you do Auto-Profiles again, and if more than 50% of the Parts have Auto-Profiles, you remove the Auto-Profiles and sketch-loops from the Parts.

GST-Icon-AutoLayer

Solids menu (or toolbar) > Auto Layer (optionally use with Auto Profiles)

To offset the Auto-Profiles by different distances. When you cycle your mechanism, the Parts should not collide with each other (no guarantees).

To see the MD-Solids in the graphics-area you must enable:

Show Model in Mechanism icon

Visibility menu > Show Solids in Mechanism

Use the Auto-Profiles and Auto-Layer commands

GST-4-201

STEP 1: Complete or open Tutorial 2

The model is in the Mechanism-Editor.

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

STEP 2: Add Auto-Profiles to all of the Parts

GST-Icon-AutoProfiles

Click : Solids toolbar  > Auto-Profiles
or
MD16: Click Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Solids sub-menu > Add Auto-Profiles

or

MD17 : MD-Solids menu > Auto-Profiles

We add for you Auto-Profiles and sketch-loops to the Base-Part and each Part you in the model.

<<< In the image, the Auto-Profiles are PINK.

STEP 3: Show the Solids

GST-Icon-EnableShowSolids

Click Visibility toolbar  > Show Solids in Mechanism

Now you should also be able to see the Extrusions in the Mechanism-Editor.

STEP 4: Spin the model to see the Extrusions

Press the arrow keys on your keyboard (up-down, left-right)

STEP 5: Layer the Profiles/Extrusions

GST-Icon-AutoLayer

Click Solids Toolbar > Auto-Layer

or
MD16: Click Add menu > Mechanism sub-menu > Solids sub-menu > Auto-Layer

or

MD17 : MD-Solids menu > Auto-Layer

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

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

 

GST-4-202

GST-4-203

GST-4-204

Summary

Do Auto-Profiles

•To add a sketch-loop to each Part.

•To add a Profile and Extrusion to each sketch-loop.

Auto-Profiles are coplanar.

Do Auto-Layer

•To move the each Auto-Profile by a different distance from the Mechanism-Plane.

Optionally:

•Open each Extrusion dialog for each Extrusion, and edit the Extrusion-Offset and/or the Part-Offset parameters.

Video of the Auto-Profile command

Add Auto-Profiles to a Kinematic-Chain