After creating joints in the mechanism and defining their properties, run a simulation .
- In the Final time text box of the Simulation Player, enter the total time you want this simulation to run.
- If necessary, use the Images text box to change the number of images you want to save during the simulation.
The default is 100 images. The maximum is 500,000 images.
- Click Play
to run the simulation.The software calculates all data possible from the joints and properties you input. This data is available through the Output Grapher during the simulation and after the simulation stops. Unless you click Deactivate screen refresh
, the software also shows the action of the simulation in the graphics window. - If you do not want to see the action of the simulation displayed in the graphics window during the computation, click Deactivate Screen Refresh.
This option can enable the software to complete the simulation calculations in less real time.
The default is to show the action of the simulation in the graphics window.
- If you want to stop the simulation before it runs for the entire time selected or if you clicked play the simulation in a loop, click Stop
to end the simulation. - Click Rewind
to go the beginning of the simulation to return the simulation to the starting point before rerunning. - Click Forward
to end of simulation to go to the last image in memory. - If you want to replay the simulation in a loop until you click Stop, click Loop
.The default is to play the simulation from the start time to the end time and then stop automatically.
- If you want to show only a portion of the images captured, enter the number of the image to show in the Filter text box; for example, to show every second image, enter 2, and to show every sixth image, enter 6.
The default is 1, that is, to show every image.
This text box is only available when you are in simulation mode, but the simulation has stopped.
- If you want to modify your mechanism, click return to
construction mode
. - Repeat the above steps as necessary.