First time starting MechDesigner.

CopyMinder License Key

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

You will need to allow

Select a Theme

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

These tutorials use 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