HCM 3-D: General Information

HCM 3-D is a parametric technology which you can use, for example, to implement movement analyses and function simulations.

To enable you to do this, individual parts are grouped into complex assemblies (Assembly Modelling) by assigning so-called constraints, i.e. by means of

dimension relations,

logical connections and

restrictions.

HCM 3D then transforms the relevant parts, thereby enabling the defined constraints to be fulfilled.

The following should be borne in mind: constraints are assigned to individual geometry elements of assemblies. These geometry elements include

points,

lines,

splines

flat surfaces

cylinders and

ellipses.

However, it is not only these elements, but the entire assembly that is transformed. The HCM models are not calculated immediately upon loading a construction, but only when an HCM model is accessed.

You may also activate the Part HCM Selection context menu with a right click to select the reference geometries. The context menu offers the following options:

Part HCM Options

Geometry

Selection by identification of the required geometry

Surface

Selection of a surface via identification of 2 edges.

X-, Y- or Z-Axis

Selection of the X-, Y- or Z-axis.

XY-, XZ- or YZ-Plane

Selection of the XY-, XZ or YZ-plane

Cancel

Cancels the menu.

Notes:

Please note that you can only assign constraints to complete parts. You cannot use HCM 3-D to move individual edges or surfaces and hence to distort a part.

Constraints are always assigned between elements of different units, e.g. between the top surface of a cuboid and the base surface of a cylinder. Other types such as toruses, freeform surfaces etc. may, however, be contained as elements in the parts, as long as they are not meant to be used as a reference for a constraint.

HCM 3-D models can be stored as a variant and reused at any time. This enables you to systematically capture and automate many construction tasks.

If geometric changes are made to a part containing HCM constraints, the constraints are checked and updated after the changes.

In addition to the assignment of constraints and the associatedpositioning of parts, the Dragger is one of the most important components of HCM 3-D. It allows you to use the mouse to move individual parts or to perform an automatic motion simulation, while complying with already assigned constraints. This enables you to perform dynamic manipulations even on complex models, i.e. spatial movements are controllable and are visualised in real time. This means that it is also easy for you to implement three-dimensional kinematic analyses.

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