Degrees of Freedom

Any component that is unconstrained in space has six degrees

of freedom.
Translation movement along X, Y, and Z axis
(three degrees of freedom)
Rotation rotate about X, Y, and Z axis
(three degrees of freedom)

Ken Youssefi

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Joints
A mechanism is a mechanical portion of a machine that is
responsible for transferring motion, force, and torque from an input
source to an output source. A mechanism consists of linkages and
joints. Links are considered rigid parts. Joints are movable
connections between links and allow relative motion between links.

The Revolute joint (pin or hinge joint) - one degree

of freedom
It allows pure rotation between the two links that it connects (R joints)

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Joints
The Sliding joint (prism or piston joint) - one degree
of freedom
It allows linear sliding between the two links that it connects (P joint)

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Joints
The Helical joint (helix or screw joint) - one degree of
freedom
The sliding and rotational motions are related by the helix angle of the
thread (H joint)

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Joints
The Cylindrical (cylindric) joint - two degrees of freedom
It permits both angular rotation and an independent sliding motion (C joint)

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Joints
The Spherical (spheric) - Three degree of freedom
It permits rotational motion about all three axes, a ball-and-socket joint (S joint)

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Joints
The Planar (flat) - Three degree of freedom
It permits rotational motion about the Z axes axis and sliding motion in x and y
axes (F joint), used seldom in design

Ken Youssefi

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

A cam joint allows both rotation

and sliding between two links.

Joints

A gear connection also

allows both rotation and
sliding as the gear teeth
mesh

Ken Youssefi

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Motion Analysis
In general, there are two types of motion analysis that should be
performed to check the design.

Kinematics: deals with the study of motion without regard

for the forces that cause the motion. The analysis provides
information about the position, velocity and acceleration of
all links.

Kinetics: deals with the action of forces on the

mechanism. It provides information about the forces at the
joints and the required input torque.

Ken Youssefi

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Motion Analysis
The process of analyzing the motion of a mechanism.

Geometric modeling of all parts and creating an

assembly model of the mechanism with proper mates.

Generate the motion model:

Define ground (fixed) components
Define moving components
Define joints and connections
Specify driver(s) component
Specify loads; external loads, body force

(gravitational)

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Perform motion analysis

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

10

Motion Analysis

Results visualization (post-processing)

Graphs study the position, velocity, and

acceleration of any link or any point on a given link

Animation check the overall motion and

interference
Prepare reports graphs and charts
Query results at specific locations for a given time
AVI and VRML convert the motion to an AVI or

export animations to VRML format for distribution on

the Internet

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

11

Motion Analysis
Tools Add-Ins and check SolidWorks Motion or COSMOSMotion

2008

Ken Youssefi

2009/10

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

12

Motion Analysis
Animation option creates simple
animations based on point to point
motion of parts in assemblies.
Motor could also be used.
Basic Motion option approximates
the effects of Motors, Springs,
Collision and Gravity on assembly.
This is a physics based simulation

Select Motion Study 1

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Motion Analysis combines motion

study elements with mates in motion.
It also calculates loads that can be
used in finite element analysis.
Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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Motion Analysis - Toolbar

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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Motion Analysis - Toolbar

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

15

Motion Analysis - Toolbar

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

16

Motion Analysis - Toolbar

No Filter, shows all items

Filter Selected, shows only

the selected items
Filter Results, shows
only simulated result
items

Filter Animated, shows only

the moving items

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Filter Driving, shows only the

items that cause motion

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7 in

9 in
2 in
ground

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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Motor Selection
Select Motor type

Choose the driver,

Motion type and
specify speed

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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4-Bar in motion

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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Results of Motion Analysis 4 Steps

1. Select a category

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2. Select a sub-category

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

21

Results of Motion Analysis

3. Select a result component

4. Select a component, 9 in.

bar. You can also select a
face, an edge, a vertex,
or a mate

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

22

Results of Motion Analysis

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

23

Results of Motion Analysis

Plotting the angular velocity of the 9 in.

link against the angular displacement of
the 2 in. link (input)

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

24

Force Analysis
Force

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

25

Path Analysis

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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Disable Orientation and

Camera Views

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

27

Motion Analysis Slider Crank Mechanism

Slider-Crank components, each made in
separate files.
Slider (piston)

Bearing

Crank

Connecting rod
Pin

Assembled Slider-Crank Mechanism

The first three mates assemble the crank to the

fixed bearing and the Right plane
The next two mates assemble the rod to the crank
The next two mates assemble the piston to the
pin, allowing the piston to rotate about the pin
The last mate eliminates rotation and allows only translation
between ground (Top plane) and the piston

Animation Wizard
Create simple animations automatically: rotate model about any axis,
Explode and collapse model

Animation Wizard

Explode
Collapse
Rotation

Animation Wizard

Fixing or Floating Components in Assembly

f stands for fixed

component
Right click the
component to
change it from
fixed to float

- stands for moving

component

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

33

2 in link is fixed and 7 in link is the driver

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

34

Hinge Mate

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

35

COSMOSMotion Joints, 2007/8 SW

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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COSMOSMotion
Straight line mechanism

Each rod drawn in a separate file and

assembled using various mates. All
connections are pin joints (Revolute).
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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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Straight line mechanism

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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Ken Youssefi

Mechanical Engineering Dept.

39

COSMOSMotion - IntelliMotion
At the top of the FeatureManager,
select the Motion tab
Select IntelliMotion option
Set units

Select force and time units,

mass and length will be set
automatically according to
your selections

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

40

COSMOSMotion IntelliMotion (gravity)

Specify the magnitude and direction in which gravity acts

This means that a vector of 0,-1, 0

defines the direction

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

41

IntelliMotion Moving and Ground Components

Select and drag over

Designate the moving and fixed

components

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

42

IntelliMotion Joints
Mates specified during assembly will be displayed.
You can add or modify joint type.
Linear or torsion spring can
be included

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

43

IntelliMotion Motion

Select input
motion type

Select the
driver joint

Specify
velocity
Select the
velocity
value
function
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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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IntelliMotion Simulation
Select duration and the
number of frames.
Start the
simulation

Warning motion not completed

due to mechanism discontinuity

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

45

IntelliMotion Animation

Check for interference

Create and save the animation in

the AVI format

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

46

Motion analysis
Linear velocity of any
point could be graphed

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Path of any point on the

mechanism could be traced

47

Motion analysis - Velocity

Select component
and a point on the
component to
measure velocity

Display the graph

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

48

Motion analysis Position of Components

An angular displacement between any two components could be plotted.

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

49

Motion analysis Select Motor

Rotary Motor

Linear Motor

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

50

Motion analysis Apply Forces

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

51

Motion analysis XY plots

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

52

Motion analysis NX5

Select Motion Simulation module

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Type of joints

53

Motion analysis NX5

First select the Solution and then the Solve option

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

54

Motion analysis NX5

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

55

Motion analysis NX5

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

56

Potato cutter (french fries)

Main body

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

57

Chrome
handle

Plastic handle

Side bar
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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Red slider
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Cutting blade

Pusher

Chrome
back plate
Clamp
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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

59

After creating assembly model,

select Motion Simulation
module from the Start menu

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

60

Select Driver Type

Assign a driver, right

click on joint j006 and
select Edit

Select Constant and

specify velocity (deg/sec)
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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

61

After assigning the driver, select

Solution and then select Solve

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

62

Select Animation

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

63

Interference Check
Select 2nd body

Select Type
of detection

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

Select 1st body

64

Check Interference
and Pause on Event

Just before
interference
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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

65

Motion analysis NX5 (example)

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Mechanical Engineering Dept.

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