Understand the Graphs

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Understand the Graphs

Motion

Motion is an abstract concept. It is difficult to order a motion off eBay or Alibaba, for example.

Motion design software is only useful if the motion is visible. The easiest method to make a motion become visible, is to plot a motion as a graph - this is MotionDesigner.

A different method is to move machine-elements in a model with the same motions as the motion graphs. That is what MechDesigner does.

Motion Graphs in MotionDesigner

You can see up to four graphs in MotionDesigner: Position, Velocity, Acceleration, and Jerk. These are the four motion-derivatives.

You can use the P,V,A, J icons in the View Toolbar, to show or hide each motion-derivative. You must show a minimum of one graph.

GST-MotionDesigner-MotionOnlyExample-Understanding

Need to know 1: The same X–axis Red-14-1b is for all Graphs

The four motion-derivatives have the same X-axis. The X-axis is at the bottom of the graphs.

Most typically, the X-axis is from 0 to 360 degrees - the same as the Master-Machine-Angle in MechDesigner.

Other units for machine angle are degrees, radians, or cycles. You can also use time base in milliseconds, seconds.

The X-axis units of each Motion name-tab, can be different. But, they are usually the same units: 0 - 360.


Need to know 2: Each motion-derivatives is the same motionRed-14-2.

The same motion is displayed, exactly above each other.

If you edit one motion-derivative, the other motion-derivatives change, automatically.


Need to know 3: Split the motion into Segments

It is easier to design a motion when you split it into segments.

Each segment is assigned a Motion-Law.

You can change the Motion-Law for each segment, with the Motion-Law Selector  - a drop-down box below the graph-area..


Need to Know 4: Blend-PointsRed-14-4 join the segments

Blend-Points joins the segments end-to-end. These are also called Nodes.


Need to Know 5:  Segment naming conventions.

For convenience, we name the segments in the help as the:

Selected-SegmentRed-14-3 - the RED segment you edit.

Previous-Segment - the segment before the Selected-Segment.

Next-Segment - the segment after the Selected-Segment.

As soon as you click a different segment, it becomes the RED Selected-Segment.