MotionManager Design Tree

The MotionManager design tree includes:
  • Orientation and Camera Views options
  • Lights, Cameras, and Scene folder
  • Component entities that appear in the SOLIDWORKS FeatureManager design tree
  • Simulation elements like motors, forces, or springs

Orientation and Camera Views

You can rotate, zoom, or pan the entire model during an animation. Right-click Orientation and Camera Views to access the following options:

Disable Playback of View Keys Prevents the model view from changing while you edit or playback the animation.
Disable View Key Creation Locks the animation. Changes to the model using rotate, zoom, or pan are not saved as key frames to the animation.
  View Orientation Specifies the orientation.

Available when Disable View Key Creation is cleared.
Camera View Defines the view through a camera.

Available when Disable View Key Creation is cleared.

Examples with Disable Playback of View Keys

You can change model orientation during playback. If you do not disable playback of view keys, the model moves as defined by the view keys that you create.
  • Disable Playback of View Keys is cleared. When you move the model at a view key by using rotate, zoom, or pan, the model returns to the original view key in the animation when you finish moving the model.

    Video: Disable Playback Option is Cleared

  • Disable Playback of View Keys is selected. When you move the model by using rotate, zoom, or pan, the animation continues from the final view key in the animation when you finish moving the model.

    Video: Disable Playback Option is Selected

Examples with Disable View Key Creation

When you define component motion in key frames, you can rotate, zoom, or pan the model to access the component. To move only the component, lock the view by selecting Disable View Key Creation. Movements to the model are not saved as a key frame to the animation.
  • Disable View Key Creation is cleared. If you reorient the model while the timeline is on a view key, the animation captures the changes in the view key.

    In this example, the original animation is a single rotation. You rotate and zoom the model while on a view key, and the animation captures the orientation changes.

    Video: Disable View Key Creation Option is Cleared

  • Disable View Key Creation is selected. While the timeline is on a view key, changes to the model orientation do not affect the view key. The original animation at the view key does not change.

    In this example, you rotate and zoom the model, but the animation does not capture the orientation changes.

    When you rotate, zoom or pan, the pointer icon changes to indicate that the orientation is not changing in the animation.

    Video: Disable View Key Creation Option is Selected

Lights, Cameras, and Scene

Lights, Cameras, and Scene controls lights and cameras. Right-click this folder to access the following options:
Add Directional Light  
Add Spot Light  
Add Point Light  
Add Sunlight  
Add Camera  
Show Lights Switches the visibility of the lights in the graphics area.
Show Cameras Switches the visibility of the cameras in the graphics area.

Right-click a light to access the following options:

On or Off Switches the lights on or off.
  Properties Specifies the light properties in the Light PropertyManager.
Show Lights Switches the visibility of the lights in the graphics area.

Right-click a camera to access the following options:

  Properties Specifies the camera properties in the Camera PropertyManager.
  Camera View Displays the model by using the selected camera. You can have multiple cameras in the animation.
Show Cameras Switches the visibility of all cameras in the graphics area.

Component Entities

Use the component entities listed in the MotionManager design tree to:
  • Expand to view animation component attributes such as:
    Move Indicates that you can move the component.
    Explode Indicates that the component is repositioned in the graphics area.
    Appearance Indicates that the appearance of the component is assigned.
  • Access display options for animation components. Right-click the component to select visual attributes, including the following options:
    Hide  
    Change Transparency  
      Isolate  
      Component Display Specifies a SOLIDWORKS view mode, such as Wireframe or Shaded with Edges .
    Appearance Changes visual characteristics, such as color.
To select a component, you can use the SOLIDWORKS FeatureManager design tree, the MotionManager design tree, or the graphics area.