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Lesson

Lesson Objective: In this lesson, we will be introduced to the Mechanism functionality in

Pro/ENGINEER.

There are very few assemblies that we design that do not have moving parts. Even if the moving part is as
simple as a lid that rotates about a pivot point, or as complex as a pin that rides in a slot, the ability to
capture this dynamic behavior is something we want to be able to do.

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Mechanism is the tool in Pro/ENGINEER that provides this behavior. Without using Mechanism, you would
have to assemble components using datum planes or other references to capture offsets or angular
placements. Then, by changing any dimensions associated with these placements, you are able to
regenerate the assembly and see a static condition that represents a different state.

This is still not capturing the dynamic behavior of the assembly, nor does it provide an adequate method for
checking interference along the entire path of motion the component can go through.

Mechanism allows you to assemble a component into an assembly, drag its open degrees of freedom (see
section below), create servo motors to move the components based on certain conditions, run animations
that capture the motion, and then perform interference and other measurements on the assembly as the
motion is being carried out.

Degrees of Freedom

Every component you assemble initially has six degrees of freedom – three translations (along the X, Y and
Z axes) and three rotations (about the X, Y, and Z axes). When we use placement constraints such as
mate, align, parallel, offset or through, we are starting to fix some or all of these degrees of freedom (DOF).

When a component is fully assembled using traditional Pro/ENGINEER placement constraints, you have
successfully fixed all six DOF. Even if you build in a rotation by using a datum plane through an axis at an
angle to some other plane, you are still fixing the model to this plane.

Packaged Components

If you recall from your Pro/ENGINEER Fundamentals training, you can leave a component partially
constrained, and it is considered “Packaged”. In the model tree, you would see a white square next to the
component, indicating this condition exists.

The problem with partially constraining a component using traditional placement constraints, is that no other
component can be assembled to a packaged component. Therefore, if you needed (for example) to create
a drawer that pulls out from a cabinet, and then assemble a knob onto that drawer, you could not do it if the
drawer itself were not fully constrained.

Connections

Connections are placement constraints in the Mechanism mode that fix certain constraints but leave others
free to move. The component is still considered “packaged” because it is only partially constrained, but the
rules are a little different. With the connections in place, you can dynamically move the open DOF, and you
can also assemble other components to the “packaged” part.

This gives you the complete flexibility to capture the motion that exists in your assembly, and still be able to
create a realistic assembly in terms of order of assembly and connections between bodies.

There are several locations where you will encounter Mechanism tools. The first is available when you go to
place a component in your assembly. When you click on the add component icon, and then select the
component you are going to add, you get the following window.

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Traditionally, you would start to pick references on the model, and depending on what you picked (two
planes for example), it would determine the best constraint (Mate, Align, Offset, Parallel, for example).
These are done in the middle section of the window, as shown in the figure above in the section entitled
Traditional Constraints.

Just above this section, there are three tabs. The tab on the right is called Connect. If you click on this tab
before adding any constraints, you will have access to all of the mechanism connection types (pin, slider,
etc.). The following figure shows how the window changes once you select the Connect tab.

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As we will learn in the next lesson, there are many different connection types: Pin, Slider, Planar, Bearing,
etc. Each of these connection types has constraints that must be satisfied for them to work. For example,
a pin connection requires two axes or cylindrical surfaces to be aligned, and two planes, points or vertices to
fix the translation through the selected axes.

The rotation about the axis is all that is permitted. With a single component, you can add several different
connection types until the placement is considered complete. Each of these connections will need to be fully
defined.

The second way to access mechanism is to go to Applications, Mechanism from the menu bar, as shown
in the next figure.

This will bring up the following Mechanism menu and corresponding icons in the feature toolbar.

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The options and tools listed here will be discussed in greater detail in this training guide. Finally, the model
tree will contain a MECHANISM feature, listed at the bottom of the tree. Each of the possible definable
entities is listed in this feature, and can be accessed from the model tree.

This single MECHANISM feature captures all mechanism information for the current assembly.

In addition to being able to assemble components using realistic degrees of freedom, mechanism also does
a lot more. The typical progression to using mechanism is as follows.

Step 1 – Assemble Components

Create your assembly using mechanism connections to capture realistic degrees of freedom. These
connections are covered in great detail in the upcoming lessons.

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Step 2 – Modify Joint Axis Settings

Control your connections by modifying the joint axes created by the connection. This is explained in greater
detail in the connection lessons individually.

Step 3 – Create Slots, Cams or Gear Pairs

Slots, Cams and Gear Pairs are special tools in mechanism that capture complex interactions between
components. These will each have their own lesson.

Step 4 - Drag Components and Create Snapshots

Dynamically pull or push on components that have open DOF to see them move in the assembly. Take
snapshots of your assembly at different states of motion to use in drawings or to come back to for
reference.

Step 5 – Create Servo Motors or Force Motors

Servo motors and Force Motors are used to drive analysis and move your assembly on their own without
using drag tools. Each of these topics will be covered in great detail in their own lessons.

Step 6 – Create and Run Analyses

Start your animations to calculate the results you are looking for. With servo motors in your assembly, you
will be able to produce motion animations. With Force motors, you will be able to calculate resultant forces
and other measures while the animation is running.

Step 7 – View Results and Take Measurements

Run the animation to create MPEG movies, or to calculate interference along the path of the moving
objects. Create and view graphs that measure certain factors over time, such as position or force.

The table at the top of the next page lists the different connections available through the component
placement window at the time you assemble in a component. In addition, the number of translational and/or
rotational degrees of freedom are shown for each connection type.

Connection Type Translational DOF Rotational DOF References Needed

Pin 0 1 2 Axes or Edges & 2
Planes, Planar Surfaces,
Datum Points or Vertices
Slider 1 0 2 Axes or Edges & 2
Planes or Planar Surfaces
Cylinder 1 1 2 Axes or Edges
Planar 2 1 2 Planes or Planar
Surfaces
Ball 0 3 2 Datum Points or Vertices
Bearing 1 3 1 Datum Point and 1 Axis
or Edge
Weld 0 0 2 Coordinate Systems

There are two additional connection types in the list, but they don’t fit into the categories above. These are

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the Rigid and General connections, and they allow you to use standard assembly placement constraints,
such as Align, Mate, Insert, Tangent, etc. We will see its usage in Mechanism later.

Every connection that you build creates a joint axis symbol that appears on the model when you are in
mechanism mode. The joint axes contains information about the connection that you can control. For
example, a pin constraint is free to rotate about an axis or edge. The joint axis for a pin constraint contains
the angle for the rotation.

By modifying the joint axis settings, you can control the motion of the open DOF. When we get into each
connection type in more detail, we will also look at the joint axis settings in more detail

Mechanism is the tool in Pro/ENGINEER assembly mode that allows you to capture realistic degrees of
freedom in your assembly.

You access mechanism in the component placement window, or through the Applications menu in the menu
bar.

None

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