When you start MechDesigner, you will see the default motion in MotionDesigner.

Each motion has Motion name-tab . You can add more motions. You can rename each motion.

You can show or hide the plots for the motion-derivatives: Position, Velocity, Acceleration, and/or Jerk.

The lowest motion-derivative is at the top, with increasing motion-derivatives below. The image above shows the plot for Position at the top and Velocity below.

Each motion is split into Segments. The default motion has four segments.

We calculate the motion-values with a mathematical function taken from the Motion-Law that you select for each Segment. You do not need to know any Math.

Each segment begins and ends with a Blend-Point (or Node).

The Y-axis values and Units are to the left of the plot of each motion-derivative .

The X-axis values and Units are below the bottom plot. The X-axis values are common to all motion-derivatives. Typically, the X-axis values have a range from 0 to 360 degrees. You can change the units for the Y-axis and X-axis with the Active Motion Settings dialog.

Below the X-axis units, we show the Machine Speed in Cycle per Minute. The machine-speed is taken from MechDesigner, in the Machine Settings dialog.

The default motion has four segments.

You can split each Segments to give more Segments, and you can delete Segments to give less segments.

Each Segment has a Segment-Width.

Segments join together, end-to-end (they concatenate), to create a motion, over one machine-cycle of (usually) 360º.

You must select a Motion-Law for each Segment with the Motion-Law Selector.

The mathematical-function of the Motion-Law, together with the motion-values at its start and end, control the shape of the Segment.

Segment-Editor

The Segment Editor edits the Selected-Segment.

You can use the Segment-Editor to edit the:

•Segment-Width (X2 – X1)

•motion-value Y1 at X1

•motion-value Y2 at X2

•Motion-Law

The Motion-Law controls if you can control:

•motion-values Y1 and Y2 of one or all of its motion-derivatives: P, V, A, J.

•Segment-Parameters ( not all Motion-Laws )

•Segment Range ( not all Motion-Laws )

Motions are split at Blend-Points, at the start and end of each Segment.

A Blend-Point does not have a SEGMENT-WIDTH.

A Blend-Point has one X-axis value (X1 in the image) and two Y-axis values (Y1 at the end of the Previous-Segment, and Y2 at the start of the Selected-Segment) - see image above. The Y1 and Y2 values can be equal or different.

Blend-Point Editor

The Blend-Point Editor controls the motion-values of the Blend-Point at the start (beginning, left side) of the Selected-Segment.

Use the Blend-Point Editor to edit the:

•value X1

•motion-value Y1 at the End of the Previous-Segment of one or all of its motion-derivatives: P, V, A, J

•motion-value Y2 at the Start of the Selected-Segment of one or all of its motion-derivatives: P, V, A, J

Motion-Law :  

(Cam-Law) :

You must select a Motion-Law for each Segment. Each Motion-Law has a name. The Motion-Law should be able to satisfy the motion requirements for your design. Each Motion-Law is a mathematical function. The Motion-Law, together with the motion-values at its start and end, control the motion-values between each Blend-Point.

We use the term Motion-Law rather than Cam-Law as you can also apply your motion-design to Hydraulic or Air Cylinders, and Servomotors.

Motion-Derivative :

Velocity, Acceleration, and Jerk the three motion-derivatives of Position.

Segment Editor :

Use the Segment Editor to edit the Segment-Width, to select the Motion-Law, to edit the Segment-Parameters, and to edit the motion-values at the Start of the Selected-Segment and at the End of the Selected-Segment.

Blend-Point Editor :

Use the Blend-Point Editor to edit the motion-values for the Blend-Point that is at the start of the Selected-Segment.

You can edit the Y-axis values at the “End of the Previous-Segment,” y1, and at the “Start of the Selected-Segment,” Y2.

You can also edit the X-axis value for the Blend-Point at the start of the Selected-Segment.

Selected-Segment :

The segment to which you apply the motion-values that are in the Segment Editor.

The Blend-Point Editor applies its motion-values to the Blend-Point that is at the start of the Selected-Segment.

In the motion graphs, the Selected-Segment is a different color to the other segments.

Previous-Segment :

The segment that precedes (is to the left of / is earlier than / is before) the Selected-Segment. If the Selected-Segment is the first segment, then the Previous-Segment is the last segment.

Next-Segment :

The segment that follows (is to the right of / is later than / is after) the Selected-Segment. If the Selected-Segment is the last segment, then the Next-Segment is the first segment.

“End of the Previous-Segment” :

Refers to the last motion-value of the segment that is one segment to the left of the Selected-Segment.

If the Selected-Segment is Segment 1, then the End of the Previous-Segment is the motion-value at the end of the motion.

“Start of the Selected-Segment” :

Refers to the first motion-value of the Selected-Segment.

Match, Flow :

To force (with a Control-Button) the motion-value at the start of the Selected-Segment to be equal to the motion-value at the end of the Previous-Segment.

There are two triangles at each Blend-Point.

Blend-Point

Active Blend-Point - has an outline. The Blend-Point that is at the start of the Selected-Segment.

The Start of a Segment. The symbol may be Green, Black, Clear, or Grey.

The End of a Segment. The symbol may be Black, Clear, or Grey.

Note: To increase the size of the symbols, see: Active-Motion-Settings > Accessibility tab > Line and Symbol Sizes > Symbol Size.