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Tutorial 0: Machine-Settings - Edit a Parameter

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Edit a parameter in the Machine Settings dialog-box

In this tutorial, we edit a parameter with the:

•	Spin-Box tool

•	Zero/Round contextual-menu

•	Keyboard, which we enter as a simple equation

We will edit Cycles / Min and No-of-Steps in the Machine Settings dialog-box.

Video: Edit Machine-Settings

Tutorial 0

Edit Machine-Settings

Edit a Cycles/Min parameter

Step by Step

Open the Machine-Settings dialog-box

Edit toolbar > Machine Settings Icon

Expanded Edit toolbar

Edit menu > Machine-Settings

Machine-Settings icon in Edit toolbar

1.	Click the Edit toolbar expander icon [see blue ▲ in image above] to expand the Edit toolbar

2.	Click Edit toolbar > Machine Settings icon [red ▲ in image above].

- or -

1.	Click Edit menu > Machine Settings

<< Edit menu

R13.2: Machine-Settings dialog-box

In the dialog-box, if you cannot see the Cycles/Min and No of Steps parameters, then:

1.	Click the orange Cycling Parameters separator, possibly two times, to show the parameters.

Parameters [See more here].

Each parameter has the following information:

Parameter icon : to the left of the parameter box - see also: How to use the Local Help

Parameter Name: 'Cycles / Min' above the parameter box [Read only]

Parameter value : the top row of the parameter box. [In the image, in the Green box, the parameter value for Cycles/Min is 111.3].

Spin-Increment value : is the bottom row of the data-box. [In the image, in the Purple box, '0.1' is the spin-increment value of the Cycle/Min].

Spin-Box tool : is to the right of the data-box. [In the image, the Red box. See more here ].

It has two rows of buttons with arrows. The:

➢	Top arrow buttons edit the 'Parameter' value.

➢	Bottom arrow buttons edit the 'Spin-Increment' value.

'Cycles / Min' parameter: does not change the animation speed.

'Cycles / Min' changes the simulation speed, kinematic, and kinetostatic [force] results.

Use the Spin-Box tool and the 'Zero/Round' contextual-menu to edit 'Cycles/min':

Spin-Box tool:

To use the Spin-Box tool [Red box in image above]:

a.	Click the bottom-right, or bottom-left arrow button, to change the Spin-Increment to '10'.

b.	Click the top-right arrow button, to increase the Cycle/Min from '60' to '110'

c.	Click the bottom-left arrow button, to change the Spin-Increment to '1'.

d.	Click the top-right arrow button one time, to increase the Cycles/Min to '111'

e.	Click the bottom-left arrow button, to change the Spin-Increment to '0.1'

f.	Click the top-right arrow button, to increase the Cycles/Min to '111.3'

g.	Click the bottom-right arrow to increase the Spin-Increment to '100'

Zero/Round contextual-menu:

To use the 'Zero / Round' contextual-menu [Blue box in image above]:

a.	Right-click with your mouse-pointer in the Cycles/min data box, to show the contextual-sensitive 'zero / round' menu

b.	Click 'Round' to make the Cycles/Min equal to '100' - see image. The 'Round' will round the value to that value that is divisible by the Spin-Increment.

Enter an 'Equation' to edit 'No of Steps':

Enter an equation with your keyboard

Enter a new parameter value directly, or enter an equation: [Purple box in image above]

a.	Click in the data box, so that the cursor is immediately after the '100'

b.	Enter, after the '100', with your keyboard: '+20' to give '100+20' - see image

c.	Press 'enter' on your keyboard to update the value to 120 Steps.

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