First time starting MechDesigner.

CopyMinder License Key

You may need to click “OK” in a pop-up to give MechDesigner permission to check the status of your license key with the CopyMinder servers. This check is made every week. If you do not, MechDesigner may not start.

Select a Theme

You must select a “Theme” the first time you start MechDesigner,

These tutorials use the Charcoal Dark Slate theme. Therefore, if you are doing these Tutorials, we recommend you select the Charcoal Dark Slate.

Notes:

Shortcut toolbar (MD17+)

Shortcut toolbar for the tools and commands you will frequently use.

Main menu-bar & General toolbars

You can show Menus only, Toolbars only, or Menus and Toolbars - see Application-Settings

The Menus and the “General toolbars” are above the graphics-area.

The General toolbars are always available.

All toolbars are collapsed when you start MechDesigner.

See more: Menus and Toolbars

Model-Editor, Mechanism-Editor, or Part-Editor

Editor-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

See more: Model Editor, Mechanism-Editor, Part-Editor

Project-Explorer

The 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

Feedback-Area

The Feedback-Area is below the graphics-area. It includes:

•Hint (read-only) - each command has a hint, which you can read when your mouse-pointer is above command icon.

•Messages (read-only) - for example, a reason you cannot do a command

•Master Machine Angle and Animation-Speed sliders

•Vector Scale Buttons: to change the scale of Kinematic and Kinetostatic (Force) Vectors

See more: Feedback-Area

MotionDesigner

MotionDesigner is docked to the right when you start MechDesigner.

You can float and dock MotionDesigner with Visibility menu or toolbar > Dock / Float MotionDesigner

MotionDesigner has its own toolbars.

•Design an unlimited number of motions, with an unlimited number of segments

Use a Motion FB In MechDesigner to link a motion in MotionDesigner to a Motion-Part and/or Motion-Point.

See more: MotionDesigner and Getting Started Tutorials - MotionDesigner

Memo-pad - not shown in the image.

A 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