MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > Dialogs > Dialog: Function-Block: Motion

Motion FB

A Motion FB has one input-connector and one output connector.

A Motion FB controls a link between MechDesigner and one Motion name-tab in MotionDesigner.

The value at the output-connector is the Y-axis value of the motion that corresponds to the X-axis value at its input-connector.

How to open the Motion FB dialog

Motion FB

To open the Motion FB dialog

1.Double-click a Motion FB in the graphics-area

1.See How to Open a dialog

The Motion FB dialog is now open.

Motion FB dialog

Motion Parameters

Select Motion

Click the drop-down arrow to select a Motion from the list of the Motion-names in MotionDesigner.

Default motion: We select for you the left-most Motion-name tab in MotionDesigner.

After each Motion Cycle

One motion-cycle is complete after the X-axis of the Motion - NOT the MMA - is complete from 0 to 360.

◉Reset Output (default)

◉Accumulate Output

Output Data-Type

◉ Motion (default - OK for Rockers and Sliders

◉ Linear *

◉ Rotary *

* You must select Linear or Rotary if you connect a wire from the Motion FB to a Motion-Path FB or a Math FB.

Notes :

Usually, the motion-values at the input to a Motion FB increases at a constant rate from 0 to 360, again and again, one time each machine-cycle.

However, the motion-values at the input may increase or decrease, increase and decrease, oscillate, or stay at a constant value.

The motion-data at the input-connector to a Motion FB can be from the output-connector of:

•most usually, a Linear-Motion FB or Gearing FB

•a different Motion FB

•a Point-Data FB

•a Measurement FB

... in which case, the motion-values can follow any function.

Pattern

Ignore this separator

Query

Enter Y-axis value

The values in the box (below) are the X-axis values that relate to the Y-axis value for the Selected Motion - see Motion Parameters

Note:

If we cannot find an X-axis value from the Y-axis value that you enter, we will report “Failed to find Root : Possibly outside Y Range” at the bottom of the Motion FB dialog.

Also in the Feedback Message area, we will report Topic: get x-value failure ; Message: Failed to find root

"Reset" or "Accumulate" after each Motion-Cycle?

We can explain with an example, and a Graph FB.

Function-Blocks for Reset 4x and Accumulate 4x

Graphs to show Reset 4x and Accumulate 4x

1.Design an Indexing Motion in MotionDesigner with two Segments.

The X-axis should have a range of 0 to 360.

oSegment 1: Index (X-axis: 0-240 ; Y-axis: 0-90)

oSegment 2: Dwell (X-axis: 240-360 ; Y-axis: 90)

2.Connect a Linear-Motion FB to a Gearing FB

3.Connect the Gearing FB to a Motion FB

4.Connect the Motion FB to a Graph FB and/or a Motion-Dimension FB that controls a rotating Motion-Part (Rocker).

5.Edit the Base-Value in the Motion-Dimension dialog to 0º.

6.Edit the Motion FB:

oSelect the Indexing Motion (from the list of Motions names, see 1, above)

oSelect Reset as the After each motion-cycle parameter

7.Edit the Gearing FB:

oEnter Gearing Ratio = 4

8.Cycle the model with ALT+C on your keyboard.

Result:

As the MMA increases from 0 to 360, the:

•output motion-values from the Gearing FB increase from 0 to 1440 ( 4 × 360 )

•output motion-values from the Motion FB increase from 0 to 90, and jump to 0 again, 4 times.

9.Edit the Motion FB again

oSelect Accumulate as the After each motion-cycle parameter.

10.Cycle the model with ALT+C on your keyboard.

Result:

As the MMA increases from 0 to 360, the:

•output from the Gearing FB increases from 0 to 1440 ( Gearing Ratio(4) × 360 )

•indexing-shaft indexes 5 times: from 0 to 90, 90 to 180, 180 to 270, and 270 to 360.

When the MMA reaches 360, the cycle begins again.