Tutorial 1: Add a Part that Rotates - a Crank

Elements :

Description, definition.

Elements :

the individual objects we add to the model to build the mechanisms and machine. Each 'Add' command will add a new element to the the model.

Plane :

the flat surface to which we add a new Mechanism-Editor. When that Mechanism-Editor is active, the 'Front-View' looks normal [perpendicular] to the Plane.

The Plane associated with the Mechanism-Editor is called the Mechanism-Plane.

Mechanism-Editor :

the workspace that includes the graphic-area, and the Mechanism-Editor name-tab, and Contextual toolbars

Base-Part :

the reference Frame, and Part, in a Mechanism-Editor. The Base-Part has a 'rectangular' Part-Outline.

Part :

an element that becomes a moving, or fixed, rigid-body in the machine. Parts [also called Added-Parts] have an 'oval' Part-Outline. [A may call a Part: Link, Bar, Rigid-Body. All are correct.

Joint :

Kinematic-Joints constrain the relative movement between two Parts.. These Joints are on a Plane.

Pin-Joint :

a Kinematic-Joint that constrains two Points to be coincident, on a Plane, with the two Points from different Parts.

Kinematic-Chain :

two or more Parts joined together with one or more Joints.

Kinematically-Defined Part [or chain] :

a Part [or Chain] that moves in a manner as specified by at least one Motion-Part. [unless it is a kinematic structure].

Motion-Part :

a Part whose motion is precisely specified by a so-called Motion-Dimension FB

Motion-Dimension FB :

a Function-Block that specifies the angular or linear position, velocity and acceleration of a Part as a function of the Master-Machine-Angle [there are exceptions]

Master-Machine-Angle :

the 'clock' that, when you cycle the machine, moves at a constant rate from 0 to 360, again and a again.

Rocker :

a Motion-Part that rotates about a Pin-Joint. Its motion might be any motion specified by a Motion-Dimension FB. It may index [move progressively], or rotate continuously [as a Crank], or oscillate back-and-forth.

Crank :

a Rocker whose motion is constant angular velocity.