Motion Simulation / Physical Simulation (3-D)

The Simulation tool (Simulation docking window) enables you to simulate and animate movements of parts in an assembly. HCM constraints can also be used in the process, in order to link the movements of the parts to certain conditions. Two simulation modes are possible here:

Please note that the physical simulation does not consider the moment of inertia of the parts. Therefore, acceleration processes cannot be simulated with this tool.

 

To define a new simulation, or edit an existing one, open the Simulation docking window: At the top right of the HiCAD screen, select Settings > Docking windows > Simulations.

The Simulation docking window consists of four areas:

 

(1) Define/Edit simulations

 

(2) Toolbar for simulations

Play from start

Continue

End

The conveyor moves all parts of an assembly in a defined direction, along a defined surface, and with a specified speed. The movement continues until the parts lose contact with the defined surface. This surface must belong to the active simulation assembly. Conveyors are only considered for physical simulations. The conveyor function is, for example, useful for the simulation of assembly lines or sorting processes.

 

(3) Simulation tree

On the left hand side of the docking window you can find the simulation tree. Here, all defined motors of the selected simulation will be listed. Newly created motors will obtain automatically assigned names (Translation motor_0, Rotation motor_1, …).

Use the and  icons to expand and collapse the tree structures of simulations. The symbols in the tree structure have the following meaning:

Simulation

 

 

View control active

View control inactive

Sequence of views active

Sequence of views inactive

Translation motor active

Translation motor inactive

Rotation motor active

Rotation motor inactive

Polyline motor active

Polyline motor inactive

Information on motor incomplete

 

 

Right-click the name of the simulation if you want to Rename the simulation. Right -click the name of a motor to open a context menu with editing functions for motors or conveyors.

 

(4) Timeline

The timeline shows you the periods during which motors and sequences of views are working. These periods are defined via switches. For motors, green switches mark the start of a time period, red switches mark the end of a time period.

Newly created motors initially have always an ON switch at time "0", but no OFF switch. The time period of each motor ends at maximum simulation time. This time period must be longer than the sum of all switches.

  • Newly created sequences of views initially have always an ON switch at time "0", but no OFF switch.
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  • Please note:

    Simulations (3-D)Define/Edit Simulations (3-D)Simulation: Examples (3-D)

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    Version 2302 - HiCAD 3-D
    Date: 30/10/2018

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