MotionManager Tools

The following table describes the motion study tools. An X in a column indicates that the tool is available for the motion study type.

Tool   Animation Basic Motion Motion Analysis
Calculate. Calculates the current simulation. If you alter the simulation, you must recalculate it before replaying. X X X
Access Motion Study Marks the motion study. Marked motion studies are saved when you save the document.
Saving the motion study increases the file size and results in a longer save time.

You can access the saved motion study in SOLIDWORKS Visualize Connected.

Available with SOLIDWORKS Connected.

 X X X
Play from Start. Resets components and plays the simulation. Use after calculating the simulation. X X X
Play. Plays the simulation beginning at the current time bar location. X X X
Stop. X X X
  Time Bar. Specifies the start of the animation by moving the slider. X X X
  Playback Speed. X X X
  Playback Mode.

Normal

Plays from beginning to end one time.

Loop

Continuous play, beginning to end, and then loop to beginning and continue playing.

Reciprocate

Continuous play, beginning to end, then reverse-play end to beginning.
X X X
Save Animation X X X
Animation Wizard X X X
Autokey. Automatically places a new key when you move or change components. X    
Add/Update Key. Adds a key or updates properties of an existing key. X X X

Motion Elements

Tool   Animation Basic Motion Motion Analysis
Motor X X X, with expressions
Spring   X (linear only) X
Damper     X
Force     X
Contact   X X
Gravity   X X
Results and Plots     X
Motion Study Properties X X X

Stress Analysis

Tool   Animation Basic Motion Motion Analysis
Simulation Setup     X, with SOLIDWORKS Simulation
Calculate Simulation Results     X, with SOLIDWORKS Simulation




Stress Plot

Deformation Plot

Factor of Safety Plot

    X, with SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Views

Tool   Animation Basic Motion Motion Analysis
Event-based Motion View. Switches from a timeline view to an event-based view.     X, with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional
Timeline View. Switches from an event-based view to a timeline view.     X, with SOLIDWORKS Simulation Professional

Filters

Tool   Animation Basic Motion Motion Analysis
No Filter X X X
Filter Animated X X X
Filter Driving X X X
Filter Selected X X X
Filter Results     X

Zoom

Tool   Animation Basic Motion Motion Analysis
Zoom to Fit. Rescales the timeline view. X X X
Zoom In. Enlarges the size of the timeline for more precise positioning of key points and the time bar. X X X
Zoom Out. Reduces the size of the timeline to show a larger interval of time in the window. X X X
Collapse MotionManager X X X
Expand MotionManager X X X

About Playback Modes

The motion study playback mode determines whether the motion simulation runs once, repeats, or loops continuously forward and backward.

You can run three playback modes in a motion study:
  • Normal , for playing the motion simulation once
  • Loop , for continuously repeating the motion simulation from start to finish
  • Reciprocate , for playing the motion simulation forward to the end, and reversing the motion back to the start in a continuous loop.

playbackmode.gifYou can access the playback mode list from the MotionManager toolbar, to the left of the Save Animation tool.