Engineering Connection Best Practices

The following scenarios describe best practices when creating Engineering Connections to ensure that the jog direction between this app and the simulation direction in Assembly Design are consistent.

When modeling controlled machines, it is recommended that axis systems are used as shown in the examples below to define the joints that will comprise the controlled degrees of freedom. This allows for a repeatable and consistent definition of joint zero position and joint motion positive direction.

This task shows you how to:

See Also
Designing a Mechanism

Define a Rotational Joint

In the following example, the part that can move is referred to as the Child, and the other part with respect to which it moves is referred to as the Parent. Each part should have an Axis System defined such that the Z axis of the system is along the rotational Joint direction and the two Axis Systems are coincident on top of each other when the Joint is in its zero position.

  1. For Type, select Revolute, followed by second can move
  2. Right-click and select Insert > Coincidence.
    1. Set the Coincidence by first selecting the Z Axis of the Parent followed by the Z Axis of the Child.
    2. Set the Mode to Driving. Set the Option to Same.
  3. Right-click and select Insert > Contact.
    1. Set the Contact by first selecting the XY Plane of the Parent and then the XY Plane of the Child.
    2. Set the Mode to be Driving. Set the Option to be Same.
  4. Right-click and select Insert > Angle.
    1. Set the Angle by first selecting the YZ Plane of the Parent and then the YZ Plane of the Child.
    2. Set the Mode to be Controlled. By default, its value is 0deg.





Define a Translational Joint

In the following example, the part that can move is referred to as the Child, and the other part with respect to which it moves is referred to as the Parent. Each part should have an Axis System defined such that the Z axis of the system is along the translational Joint direction and the two Axis Systems are coincident on top of each other when the Joint is in its zero position.

  1. For Type, select Prismatic, followed by second can move.
  2. Right-click and select Insert > Coincidence.
    1. Set the Coincidence by first selecting the Z Axis of the Parent followed by the Z Axis of the Child.
    2. Set the Mode to Driving. Set the Option to Same.
  3. Right-click and select Insert > Contact.
    1. Set the Contact by first selecting the YZ Plane of the Parent followed by the YZ Plane of the Child.
    2. Set the Mode to Driving. Set the Option to Same.
  4. Right-click and select Insert > Offset.
    1. Set the Offset by first selecting the XY Plane of the Parent followed by the XY Plane of the Child.
    2. Set Mode to Controlled.
    3. Set Option to Same. By default, its value is 0mm.

    An offset can also be added along with the lower and/or upper limit.