Degree of Freedom Counter

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Degree of Freedom Counter

The DoF Degrees of Freedom (DOF) Counter displays the Mechanical moves of a model and their available Degrees of Freedom.  The user can select in the move list (left) and Build to a Move to display that part’s (top) Degrees of Freedom.

Within this matrix, the user can tell, based on the Part (Column) or Move (Row), what Degrees of Freedom remain. The number display for each part and move is referring the DOF Before and After the move.

Here are some features that will improve the overall use of using the Counter with 3DCS Mechanical Modeler.

•Number of Degrees of Freedom restrained or dropped on each part

•The Nominal Build position after each move

•Testing each move while checking the Degree's of Freedom can give more insight to how to better build a Mechanical model.

 

Procedure: A Mechanical Modeler license is required to have access to the Degree of Freedom Counter.

•Nominal Build the assembly,

•On the Mechanical Toolbar, select the DoF DOF Counter icon to display the DOF matrix

 

 

Mechanical

DVTI_KinSimul

DVTI_KinAnimation

DVTI_KinMotion

DVTI_FixedJnt

DVTI_SphericalJnt

DoF

Kinematic Simulation

Kinematic Animation

Kinematic Motion

Constraints

Joints

DOF Counter

 

DOF Counter_70153

 

Commands

 

Summary: The Summary will show all the information from the matrix of parts, available DOF's restrained or dropped.

Recalculate: Selecting Recalculate will rerun the Degree of Freedom Counter, after making any changes to the moves or the order of moves.

Build to Move: Select on the row and then select on Build to Move. This will apply up to that selected move in the model (Nominal Build is not necessary).

Display Translational and Rotational DOF: This option will show the controlled DOFs (before/after) for each move. T=Translation, R=Rotation.

DOF Before and After: In each row and column, there is a report that will display the Degrees of Freedom available for that part and move.

Legend:

•Under-constrained: Under-constrained parts, after Building the model or using Build to Move, will show in the row DOF SUM (under the part row) and in red.

•Fail in Quering: An Iteration move can cause the set of Mechanical Moves to fail. Others, which may be a true mechanical build case, could also cause the moves to fail.

•Build Fail: The Build Fail can refer to not enough features in the move, or incorrect features between the Object and Target features.