How to control applied structural and thermal loads in Pro/ENGINEER Mechanica using Pro/ENGINEER parameters
Pro/ENGINEER Mechanica load definition dataform accepts Pro/ENGINEER parameter inputs. This is an important tool and procedure that can be used in combination with Pro/ENGINEER and all the other modules — such as Pro/ENGINEER Mechanism Dynamics and Pro/ENGINEER Behavioral Modeling — without any loss of information. This procedure also has advantages when used in Pro/ENGINEER Mechanica Sensitivity — Local and Global — and Optimization Studies for the cases where the load applied in the model becomes a variable of the system.
The following steps are defined according to Pro/ENGINEER Wildfire 3.0 menus but can be customized for any other pre-Wildfire 3.0 releases — up to release 2001:
- Define a “Real Number” parameter by selecting from Pro/ENGINEER the following menus: >Tools >Parameters (Figure 1)
- Access MECHANICA module by selecting from Pro/ENGINEER menu bar: >Applications >Mechanica
- Access the load definition dataform using the following menus: >Insert >Force/Moment Load (or any other load definitions) or by clicking on the load icons (Figure 2)
- Type in the load definition dataform — along the direction you’d like to apply the load — the name of the parameter created in Pro/ENGINEER (Figure 3)
- The positive/negative load direction can be controlled by the parameter (+ or - value) or by simply typing “-“ sign followed by the parameter name
- Preview the load and adjust the load direction if needed
- Now, you can adjust the load magnitude by simply updating the Pro/ENGINEER parameter. You can also use this parameter as a “Design Variable” in an Optimization Study while, for instance, looking to minimize the mass of the system under certain boundary conditions (Figure 4)
You can also combine parameters evaluated and created from different Pro/ENGINEER analysis features — for instance, Pro/ENGINEER Mechanism Dynamics, Pro/ENGINEER Mechanica, Mathcad or Excel Analysis Features.
Pro/ENGINEER Behavioral Modeling Sensitivity and Optimization Studies can benefit from this functionality, too.
How to use dynamic clipping with Pro/ENGINEER Mechanism Dynamics or Pro/ENGINEER design animation functionality
This technique can be useful for presentations and demos where internal components of Pro/ENGINEER assemblies are to be “exposed” for viewing or investigation. It does not involve any advanced technical understanding of Pro/ENGINEER Mechanism Dynamics or Pro/ENGINEER design animation functionality to complete.
- Start by creating a new Pro/ENGINEER part of a spherical shape. Specify that the dimensions for this component be larger than the ones of your assembly
- Assemble this new Pro/ENGINEER part to you current Pro/ENGINEER assembly using a Pro/ENGINEER Mechanism Dynamics connection that frees a rotational or translational degree of freedom. You can use a Pin or a Cylinder joint. Change the color of the sphere part to be fully transparent (Figure 5)
- From Pro/ENGINEER menu select: >View >Display Settings >Model Display and ensure that “Transparencies” and “Capped Clipping” options are turned on (Figure 6)
- Select from the menu bar: >View >Display Settings >Visibilities and set the Clip % to about 50% (Figure 7)
- Access Pro/ENGINEER Mechanism Dynamics or Pro/ENGINEER design animation functionality using the following menus: >Application >Mechanism
- In Pro/ENGINEER Mechanism Dynamics, define a velocity-driven servo motor that rotates the spherical Pro/ENGINEER part a full revolution and a Position or Kinematic analysis (Figure 8)
- In Pro/ENGINEER design animation functionality, insert a similar servo motor type to the timeline and run the animation.
- Activate the Playback button and play the animation. You can save the animation to an MPEG file format or you can use any 3rd party video capturing tools to accomplish the same (Figure 9)
Furthermore, using Pro/ENGINEER design animation functionality, this technique can be combined with other functionalities — such as >Transparencies @ Time and >Display @ Time — to make even more impressive model presentations.
Related information:
Was this article interesting? Let us know.
