Animation Menu
Next, we will look at several functions of the Animation toolbar. This toolbar contains the functions for visualizing the assembly process and deviations of the model. The Animation toolbar contains the following icons:
Verify the mesh is displayed on the parts. The global display of the mesh is controlled by 
Show Mesh. If the icon is blue, the global display of the mesh is on. If the icon is grey, the global display of the mesh is off.
•If the mesh is off, click on Show Mesh to turn the mesh on.
•Click on the 
Deviate button to show the variation of the tolerances.
The surfaces with Tolerances will start deviating parts except for Stick and Link don't have tolerance. This represents the random variation for multiple parts according to the active Tolerances. If the surface mesh is deviating too fast, increase the Delay to slow it down. You can also 
Pause and 
Play
Pause and 
Play 
Pause and 
Play the deviations.
•Click [Close] in the Deviate dialog to stop the deviation.
•Click 
Nominal Build.
Nominal Build applies all active Moves in the model to locate parts in their built position using nominal part geometry. Notice that the 
Creation Mode icon changes to the 
Animation Mode icon automatically after selecting Nominal Build. Creation Mode is used when creating or modifying Moves, Tolerances, Measures in the model. Animation Mode is used to visualize the build process or variation in the model.
•Click Deviate.
With the parts in the built position, Deviate will show how the variation of the parts stack up through the Moves to affect the final position of the assembled parts. Each run is a new combination of parts with unique geometry due to variation from the Tolerances.
•Click [Close] in the Deviate dialog.
•Click 
Separate to return the parts to their position from before the Moves were applied. In 3DCS, you must Separate before you can save.
•Click 
Animate. This opens the Animate dialog.
Animate is used to show the build process step-by-step.
•Click on 
Forward One Assembly to animate the first Move.
•Click on Forward One Assembly again to animate the second Move.
•Click [OK][Close] to close the Animate dialog.
Variants are used to turn on and off Moves.
•Now open the Variant Dialog by clicking 
Variants from the Model Creation toolbar.
Notice how Static Design is applied to the Model
•Scroll down to the Moves and Measures lists at the bottom of the 3DCS Tree / Navigation window.
•Select "Static Extreme" and select [Apply Variant], this will apply the selected variant to the model.
•Notice the Moves and Measures gets activated/deactivated in the tree as defined in the applied Variant.
•Close the Model Variants dialog.
•Click Nominal Build to see the build position for the Variant "Static Extreme"
•Click Deviate.
•Click [Close] in the Deviate dialog and Separate the model.
•Click Animate and scroll through the moves.
•Click [OK][Close] to close the Animation dialog.
•Open the Variant Dialog and apply the Variant "Motion"
•Click Nominal Build and Deviate.
You can see the Parts now deviating with motion.
•Click [Close] in the Deviate dialog.
•Click the Animation Mode button to return to Creation Mode. The parts will return to their position set by 3DEXPERIENCECATIA V5.