Define / Edit Motors

Translation motor

A translation motor moves a part with a defined speed (Velocity) in a specified direction. If you enter a negative speed, the part will be moved in the opposite direction.

1. Select the part that you want to be moved. Click the symbol and identify the desired part in the ICN or in the drawing. The part will be highlighted in red.
2. Select the direction of the movement. Click the icon and define the direction by identifying one edge or by specifying two points. The selected direction will be indicated by a vector symbol.
3. Enter the speed (Velocity) of the movement. Specify the units of measurements for the length and the time and enter the desired values. Entering a negative value reverses the direction of the movement.

4. Optionally, you can select a reference part. In this case the created motor will be added, so to speak, to the motors affecting the reference part; this means that via the reference part, the selected part takes over all motors affecting the reference part (see also Motion Simulation: Motors with Reference Part). To specify a reference part, you need to activate the checkbox first. Then, click the symbol and identify the reference part in the drawing or in the ICN. The reference part should also be a driven part, i.e. a part for which a motor has been defined.
5. Close the window with OK.

The translation motor will then be displayed in the simulation tree. Its name will be Translation motor_n, with n being a consecutive number automatically assigned by HiCAD.

Rotation motor

A rotation motor rotates a part with a defined speed (Velocity) about a specified axis. Entering a negative speed reverses the direction of the rotation.

The procedure for the definition of the rotation motor is largely identical to that for the definition of the translation motor. Instead of the direction of the movement, the rotation axis is defined here - either by identifying one edge or by specifying two points. The rotation axis will be indicated by a rotation arrow. The speed (velocity) will be determined by the number of revolutions per unit of time, or by the rotation angle per unit of time.

The rotation motor will then be displayed in the simulation tree. Its name will be Rotation motor_n, with n being a consecutive number automatically assigned by HiCAD.

Polyline motor

A polyline motor moves a part with a defined speed (Velocity) along a defined polyline. If you enter a negative speed, the part will be moved in the opposite direction.

The movement types are identical to those for c-edge sweeps. The speed may also be negative.

The procedure for the definition of the polyline motor is largely identical to that for the definition of the translation motor. Instead of the direction of the movement, a polyline is identified here. In addition, you can choose a Motion type here, as you would do for the C-edge sweep function, and a reference point:

Motion type:

• Move only
  The part will only be moved along the polyline.
• Rotate, with polyline
  The part will be moved steadily and with minimum rotation along the polyline.

• With direction specification
  Here the direction of the movement will be specified by means of a direction vector.

• Constant angle with direction
  Here, too, the movement is specified by means of a direction vector. You can define the vector by specifying two points or by selecting the edge direction. In contrast to the With direction specification option, the routing takes place with a constant angle here.

The polyline motor will then be displayed in the simulation tree. Its name will be Polyline motor_n, with n being a consecutive number automatically assigned by HiCAD.

Reference point:

Without an explicit reference point specification, polyline motors will always start at the start or end point of the polyline, and will calculate transformations in such a way as if the part to be moved was located in this position. If the part to be moved is located far away from this start point, the part will perform an unexpected movement.

Similar problems occur when the part is to start right in the middle of an edge. In this situation, it is located far away from the start point and end point of the edge, thus causing unexpected movements.

Such problems can be avoided by specifying a suitable reference point on the part. This reference point will be projected onto the polyline. The Polyline motor will then calculate the transformations relative to this point an the polyline, and no longer relative to the formerly chosen start point.

The polyline motor will then be shown in the simulation tree. Its name will be Polyline motor_n, with n being a consecutive number that is automatically assigned by HiCAD.

Click here to view an example of a polyline motor with reference point.

Translation motor active

Translation motor inactive

Rotation motor active

Rotation motor inactive

Polyline motor active

Polyline motor inactive

Information on motor incomplete