Tree Elements

The tree includes model elements that you can create, define, reference, or edit depending on the modeling context. Elements are grouped under nodes corresponding to categories or to specific relations between elements (parent or child element). You can expand or collapse nodes to show or hide the elements included in them.

This page discusses:

See Also
Element Visualization

Model Elements

Internal and external mechanism elements appear under the Model node. Internal elements are elements included in the mechanism. External elements are the products, engineering connections, or other elements associated with the mechanism.

Element Description
Product Represents a physical part or assembly. A product can be a standalone object without any representation, or it can include features, such as mechanisms or engineering connections.
Mechanism Defines a product including components that can move relative to each other and according to predefined constraints.

For more information, see Creating Mechanisms.
Globals Lists elements and properties specific to the mechanism. For more information, see Defining the Gravity of Mechanisms.
Functions Uses variables to define the motion of mechanism elements during a simulation scenario.

For more information, see Creating Functions.
Bodies Defines a product enforced in a mechanism, and defined by a mass, an inertia, a position, and an orientation.

For more information, see Creating Bodies.
Markers Defines an axis-system feature associated to a body and used to link motion elements.

For more information, see Creating Markers.
Joints Defines a relation between components of the mechanism. You can create joints based on existing engineering connections.

For more information, see Creating Joints.
Initial Conditions Define initial positions for a marker or a joint to modify their position or velocity at the start of a simulation.

For more information, see Creating Initial Conditions.
Drivers Defines one or several unrestricted degrees of freedom of an engineering connection, used to control and drive the motion of the mechanism during the simulation.

For more information, see Creating Joint Drivers.
Applied Loads Applies an external influence on a mechanism, either on the entire design space or only on a portion.

For more information, see Applying Loads.
Contacts Defines a mechanical contact between two or more bodies included in a mechanism.

For more information, see Creating 3D Contacts.
Machine Elements Creates motion elements considering several load forces or properties, such as the elastic and damping properties.

For more information, see Machine Elements.
Probes Creates a geometric trace of the mechanism to visualize its motion during the simulation.

For more information, see Generating Geometric Traces.

Scenario Elements

Elements associated with the simulation of mechanisms appear under the Scenario node.

Element Description
Motion Analysis Case Includes the kinematic or dynamic actions to run during the mechanism simulation.

For more information, see Creating Analysis Cases.
Analysis Steps Defines kinematic or dynamic actions during the mechanism simulation.

For more information, see Creating Analysis Steps.

Result Elements

Elements associated with the results of mechanism simulations appear under the Results node.

Element Description
Results of Motion Analysis Includes the results of the computed motion analysis case.

For more information, see Computing Analysis Cases.
Analysis Step Results Includes the results of each kinematic or dynamic step defined inside a motion analysis case.

For more information, see Computing Analysis Cases.
2D Plots Creates a graph representing the movement or speed of the mechanism elements according to one another.

For more information, see Using a 2D Plot.
Swept Volume Plots the position of 3D products or parts included in a mechanism and at each step of the simulation.

For more information, see Generating Swept Volumes.