Because standard joints , except for welding, add degrees of freedom (DOF) to an assembly, you must add one or more standard joints before you can add other categories of joints. You can add one or more standard joints as soon as you start Dynamic Simulation with an assembly open.
When choosing the type of standard joint to add to a mechanism, consider the degrees of freedom you need between the two components and the relative movements of the two joint coordinate systems . At the time of joint insertion, place the two joint coordinate systems, one on each component. When applying the joint, the software positions the two components so that their joint coordinate systems are coincident. Then, the software creates degrees of freedom, depending on the joint type, between the two coordinate systems and, therefore, between the two components.
In the following table, the subscript numbers refer to the components making up the joint. For example, Z 1 is the Z vector of the first component and Z 2 is the Z vector of the second component.
Standard Joint Type |
Translational DOF |
Rotational DOF |
Coordinate system Constraints |
Revolution |
None |
Z axis |
Z 2 = Z 1 O 2 = O 1 |
Prismatic |
Z axis |
None |
X 2 Y 2 Z 2 = X 1 Y 1 Z 1 O 2 on O 1 Z 1 |
Cylindrical |
Z axis |
Z axis |
Z 2 = Z 1 O 2 on O 1 Z 1 |
Spherical |
None |
X axis Y axis Z axis |
O 2 = O 1 |
Planar |
X axis Z axis |
Y axis |
Y 2 = Y 1 O 2 in O 1 X 1 Z 1 |
Point-line |
Z axis |
X axis Y axis Z axis |
O 2 on O 1 Z 1 |
Line-plane |
X axis Z axis |
Y axis Z axis |
O 2 Z 2 in O 1 X 1 Z 1 |
Point-plane |
X axis Z axis |
X axis Y axis Z axis |
O 2 in O 1 X 1 Z 1 |
Spatial |
X axis Y axis Z axis |
X axis Y axis Z axis |
None |
Welding |
None |
None |
O 1 X 1 Y Y Z 1 = 0 2 X 2 Y 2 Z 2 |
Preliminary steps
Tips included in Prepare assemblies for dynamic simulation tell how you can edit an assembly for easy dynamic simulation.
The rest of the steps vary according to the type of joint you are adding. Click the joint type below to see the steps to insert that particular joint type.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of component one.
The Z axis must be the axis of rotation.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This setting may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
The Z axis must be along the translational degree of freedom.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
The Z axis must be along the translational degree of freedom, as well as the axis of rotation.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
The origin should be the origin of the three axes of rotation.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
The plane should include both translational degrees of freedom.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
The Z axis should be along the translational degree of freedom.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
The plane should contain both translational degrees of freedom.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
The plane should contain both translational degrees of freedom.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
These joints create six degrees of freedom. Use this option to model a universal joint or other entities, such as, a ball, that have no constraints.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.
These joints create no degrees of freedom. Use the joint when you need a rigid connection between two components or to model a weldment. This behavior is useful when you want to generate results for export to FEA.
The joint coordinate system for a component may not be the same as the component coordinate system.
The software expresses the results in the joint coordinate system of the first component.
While you are not always required to select additional geometric entities to specify the joint coordinate system, it is good practice to specify the joint coordinate system as precisely as possible.
The joint coordinate system for the first component has its origin at the point at which this component is linked to the second component.
This change may be necessary to ensure that the two components are properly positioned when the software moves them so that their joint coordinate systems are superimposed.