Defining Camera Probes

Camera Probe runs a kinematics simulation from different viewpoints to better visualize the specific design areas to analyze. To do so, you can track the motions of interest by focusing on a selected product or by mounting a camera on this product.

You can define 4 types of camera probes:

  • a static camera probe (by default)
  • a tracking camera probe
  • a mounting camera probe
  • a tracking and mounting camera probe

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Open a kinematics simulation referencing a mechanism in the Mechanical Systems Experience app. app

 

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About Camera Probes

Define a Static Camera Probe

You can use the Camera Probe default mode to define a static camera probe that can animate a mechanism. If the motion of the mechanism is complex, you can define several Fit All in viewpoints. To adjust the viewpoints, use the standard spatial transformations commands, such as the zoom, pan, rotate, and fit in all.

The camera probe is fixed according to the root product and can only be moved manually.

Define a Tracking Camera Probe

You can attach a camera probe to a product to focus on the product and track its motion during the simulation.

Click Enable Camera Tracking in Viewer , and select the product in the work area.

The camera probe focuses on the selected product and on its motion during the simulation.

Define a Mounting Camera Probe

You can use a mounting camera probe to observe the relative motion of products according to a selected product.

  1. Click Enable Camera Mounting in Viewer , and select the product.
  2. Click Mount to Selection in Viewer and adjust the viewpoint.
    The names of the selected products appear automatically in the Selection box, under the Enable Camera Mounting in Viewer option.

The camera probe is mounted on the selected product and you can observe and track the motion of the products from this viewpoint.

Combine a Mounting Camera and a Tracking Camera Probe

For the same camera probe, you can combine a tracking and a mounting mode.

  1. Click Camera Probe .
    The 3D Camera Viewer window appears.
  2. Click Enable Camera Tracking in Viewer , and select a product.
    The camera probe focuses on the selected product (for example, product A).
  3. Click Enable Camera Mounting in Viewer , and select the product to mount the camera on (for example, product B).
  4. Click Mount to Selection in Viewer and adjust the viewpoint.
    The camera probe is mounted on the selected product.

The camera probe is mounted on product B and focuses on product A and on its motion during the simulation.