The Display and User Interface
Notes
As MechDesigner starts, you may need to click OK in a pop-up to give permission to check your license status.
The first time you start MechDesigner, you must select a Theme. The Theme in these tutorials is Charcoal Dark Slate. It also uses the Dark style. See Themes, Styles and Settings.
Each time you start MechDesigner, you start a new project automatically.
TOP-TIP
Save a new project immediately. Auto-save does not start unless your project has a file-name.
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Shortcut toolbar - coming in MD17Shortcut toolbar for frequently used tools and commands. |
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Main menu-bar & General toolbarsMenus and the General toolbars are above the graphics-area. General toolbars are always available. All toolbars are collapsed when you start MechDesigner. See more: Menus and Toolbars |
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Model-Editor, Mechanism-Editor, or Part-EditorEditor-types and names Model-Editor: to add Planes, Mechanisms, to view the motion of Solids (3D-elements), ... Mechanism-Editor: to build kinematic-chains with Parts, Joints, belts, gears, cams, ... Part-Editor: to edit the length of a Part, to add Points or Lines to locate joints made with a Part, to add shapes for Extrusions, ... Workspace Graphics-Area: the main workspace where you add elements to build your model Name-tab: to identify the active editor - you can rename the Model-Editor and Mechanism-Editors Contextual toolbars: toolbars that are contextual to each editor-type: to the left and right, the graphics-area |
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Project-ExplorerThe Project-Explorer is to the left of the graphics-area. It has three areas: Selection-Window (top) Command-Manager (middle) Element-Explorer with two tabs (bottom) Use the Selection-Window and Element-Explorer to select, edit, rename or delete elements. Use the Command-Manager to do commands. See more: Project-Explorer |
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Feedback-AreaThe Feedback-Area is below the graphics-area. It includes: •Hint (read-only) - each command has a hint, which you see next to your mouse-pointer when it is above an icon •Messages (read-only) - for example, a reason you cannot do a command •Sliders - Master-Machine-Angle and Animation-Speed •Vector Scale Buttons: to change the length of Kinematic and Kinetostatic Vectors See more: Feedback-Area |
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MotionDesignerMotionDesigner is docked to the right when you start MechDesigner. You can float and dock MotionDesigner with Visibility toolbar > Dock / Float MotionDesigner MotionDesigner has its own toolbars. •Design an unlimited number of motions, with an unlimited number of segments In MechDesigner, use a Motion FB to link a motion in MotionDesigner to a Motion-Part and/or Motion-Point. See more: MotionDesigner and Getting Started Tutorials - MotionDesigner |
Memo-pad The Memo-pad opens each time you start MechDesigner, unless you clear the Automatically Open at Start check-box at the bottom of the Memo dialog. See more: Memo |
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