Creating and Removing Logical-Physical Links

You can create Logical-Physical Links. You can also remove Logical-Physical Links.

When you create a Logical-Physical Link, you can ether do it by creating a new logical reference and create the logical-physical mapping in that reference, or use a suitable existing logical reference and create the logical-physical mapping in that one. The first case is the most common, since in most case you need to create a logical reference for this.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: A model containing a product structure with a mechanism should be opened in the Functional & Logical Design app.
Note: When you link to a macro mechanism, complex cases can occur that needs further actions. Messages with diagnostic and advice appears. In particular, linking to a multiple macro mechanism (a macro mechanism using an assembled mechanism) is not supported.
See Also
About Mapping of Logical and Physical Models

Link an Existing Logical Component (and Create Logical Reference)

You can create a Logical-Physical Link from a selected mechanism to an existing logical component by creating a new logical reference and create the logical-physical mapping in that reference.

Before you begin: A logical structure must be present for the product.
  1. From the Behaviors section of the action bar, click Logical and Physical Models Mapping Edition .
    The Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box appears.
    Note: There is a prefix to the dialog box name indicating the mode.
  2. Select the mode:

    The mode is indicated by the first part of the dialog box name:

    • Kinematic
    • Dynamic in Force
    • Dynamic in Position

    1. To go between kinematic (static) mode and dynamic mode:

      • If in kinematic mode, click Switch Kinematic to Dymamic Mode to go to dynamic mode.
      • If in any dynamic mode, click Switch Dymamic to Kinematic Mode to go to kinematic mode.

    2. To go between the two dynamic modes (driven by force commands or by position commands):

      • If in dynamic mode driven by force commands, click Switch Force to Position Command to go to dynamic mode driven by position commands.
      • If in dynamic mode driven by position commands, click Switch Position to Force Command to go to dynamic mode driven by force commands.

    Tip: The icons indicate the present mode.
    Note: In the following steps, kinematic mode is used in the examples.
  3. In the tree, select the product mechanism.
    The following elements appear in the Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box:
    • The name of the selected product appears in the Selected Product box.
    • The name of the selected mechanism appear in the Selected Mechanism box.
      Note: If a product has more than one mechanism, you can select between them in the box.
    • The mechanical variables of the selected mechanism are displayed in the left column of the dialog box.
    Note: If a Logical-Physical Link already exists for the selected mechanism, it is displayed in the Mapped Logical box.
  4. In the tree, select the logical reference that contains the logical reference to connect to.

    Important: Make sure to select the reference that contains the logical reference to be connected to, not the reference itself.

    The selected logical reference appears in the Selected Logical box.
  5. In the Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box, click Create a Logical Component from Mechanism .
    The following is the result:
    • A logical reference is created and instantiated under the selected logical reference. In the figure below the new instance is marked.

    • In the 2D graph, the corresponding component is added to the logical 2D representation.

    • Interfaces are automatically created on the new logical reference. The logical inputs are automatically connected to the corresponding mechanical signals. These connections can be edited, see Connect or Disconnect a Logical Interface to a Mechanical Signal.
      Note: Outputs are not created by default.
    • A logical-physical link is created, but no corresponding implement relation.
    • The created logical component appears in the Mapped Logical box.
      Note: If physical-logical links are already present for the selected component, you can select between them in the box.

A logical-physical link is created from a selected mechanism to a corresponding logical representation. Mechanical signals are connected to the inputs.

To finalize this connection between a mechanism and the logical behavior, do the following:
  • To use outputs from your mechanism, create the corresponding logical interface and connect the mechanical signals. See Editing Logical-Physical Links.
  • To create an implement relation between the mechanism and the root logical model, corresponding to the logical-physical link, see Creating Implement Relations.
    Tip: In more complex models, some ambiguity issues can be solved using implement relations; defining what logical instance is related to what physical instance. As an example, having two identical mechanisms mapped to two identical logical components, the ambiguity can be resolved by creating one implement relation between the top logical reference and the top physical reference, plus one implement relation for each pair of mechanism occurrence - logical occurrence.
  • To create logical connections in the logical layer between the logical component and the mechanical component, see Creating Logical Connections.

Link a New Logical Component (and New Logical Reference)

You can create a Logical-Physical Link from a selected mechanism without having any logical reference selected, by creating a new logical root interface. The corresponding interfaces are automatically created on the mechanical reference.

  1. Display the Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box, select the mode, and select the mechanism to be connected to the logical layer. See Step 1 - Step 3 above.
  2. Click Create a Logical Component from Mechanism in the Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box.
    • A logical root reference is created.
    • In the 2D graph, the corresponding component is added to the logical 2D representation.
    • Interfaces are automatically created on the new logical reference. The logical inputs are automatically connected to the corresponding mechanical signals. These connections can be edited, see Connect or Disconnect a Logical Interface to a Mechanical Signal.
      Note: Outputs are not created by default.
    • A logical-physical link is created, but no corresponding implement relation.
    • The instantiated logical component is displayed in the box to the right in the Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box.

A logical-physical link is created from a selected mechanism to an automatically created logical representation.

To finalize this connection between a mechanism and the logical behavior, do the following:

  • To use outputs from your mechanism, create the corresponding logical interface and connect the mechanical signals. See Editing Logical-Physical Links.
  • To create an implement relation between the mechanism and the root logical model, corresponding to the logical-physical link, see Creating Implement Relations.
  • To create logical connections in the logical layer between the logical component and the mechanical component, see Creating Logical Connections.

Link an Existing Logical Component (with Logical Reference)

You can create a Logical-Physical Link from a selected mechanism to an existing logical component directly, without creating a new logical reference.

Before you begin: The following apply:
  • A logical structure must be present for the product.
  • A suitable logical reference to create the logical-physical mapping in must be present.
  • That logical reference must not contain any previous logical-physical mapping.
  • That logical reference must be inside the same logical reference as the logical reference that you want to finally be linked to a mechanism.
    Note: Compare the first task above with this task. In the task above a logical reference for mapping is created, in this task it is assumed to be present already.
  1. From the Behaviors section of the action bar, click Logical and Physical Models Mapping Edition .
    The Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box appears.
  2. Select the mode, see Step 2 in the first task above.
  3. In the tree, select the product mechanism.
    The following elements appear in the Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box:
    • The name of the selected product appears in the Selected Product box.
    • The name of the selected mechanism appear in the Selected Mechanism box.
      Note: If a product has more than one mechanism, you can select between them in the box.
    • The mechanical variables of the selected mechanism are displayed in the left column of the dialog box.
    Note: If a Logical-Physical Link already exists for the selected mechanism, it is displayed in the Mapped Logical box.
  4. In the tree, select the logical reference where you want to create the logical-physical mapping.
    The selected logical reference appears in the Selected Logical box.
  5. In the Logical Mechanical Connection Editor dialog box, click Create a Logical Mechanical Mapping .
    The following is the result:
    • Interfaces are automatically created on the selected logical reference. The logical inputs are automatically connected to the corresponding mechanical signals. These connections can be edited, see Connect or Disconnect a Logical Interface to a Mechanical Signal.
      Note: Outputs are not created by default.
    • A logical-physical link is created, but no corresponding implement relation.
    • The created logical component appears in the Mapped Logical box.

A logical-physical link is created from a selected mechanism to a selected logical representation. Mechanical signals are connected to the inputs.

To finalize this connection between a mechanism and the logical behavior, do the following:

  • To use outputs from your mechanism, create the corresponding logical interface and connect the mechanical signals. See Editing Logical-Physical Links.
  • To create an implement relation between the mechanism and the root logical model, corresponding to the logical-physical link, see Creating Implement Relations.
  • To create logical connections in the logical layer between the logical component and the mechanical component, see Creating Logical Connections.