About the Mechanism Tree
After you open a mechanism model or create a new one, click Applications > Mechanism. The Mechanism Tree appears underneath the general Model Tree. All the rigid bodies, connections, motors, analyses, playbacks, and other simulation entities associated with the model appear on the tree. Right-click entities in the Mechanism Tree or on the model to access shortcut menus.
The Mechanism Tree displays your model's rigid bodies in a separate Rigid Bodies folder. When you expand the folder and right-click a rigid body, the Info > Details shortcut appears. Use this shortcut to determine to which rigid body a specific entity belongs.
Selecting Entities from the Mechanism Tree
When you make a selection in the Mechanism Tree, the selected entity is highlighted on your model. When you select Gravity, the ground body LCS is highlighted and an arrow points in the direction of the gravitational acceleration vector.
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When working with large models with several connections or motors, you can often find a specific connection or motor in the Mechanism Tree more easily than on the model.
Using Shortcut Menus from the Mechanism Tree
The table below shows the commands that appear on a shortcut menu when you right-click an entity in the Mechanism Tree. Similar menus are available when you right-click entities on your model. Starred items in the table are visible in the Mechanism Tree only if you have a Mechanism Dynamics license.
Entity
Shortcut Menu Command
Result
MECHANISM
Info > Summary
Info > Details
Info > Mass Property
Settings
Browser window with short summary
Browser window with detailed summary
Browser window with mass property definitions
Settings dialog box
A rigid body name (under RIGID BODIES)
Info > Details
Browser window with detailed summary for selected rigid body
*GRAVITY
Info > Details
Gravity dialog box
Browser window giving gravity and WCS direction
CONNECTIONS
JOINTS
MOTORS
None
CAMS
New
Cam-Follower Connection Definition dialog box
SLOTS
Convert slots
Confirmation box to convert slot to Assembly mode constraint (for mechanisms created in previous releases).
GEARS
SERVO (under MOTORS)
FORCE (under MOTORS)
SPRINGS
DAMPERS
FORCES/TORQUES
INITIAL CONDITIONS
ANALYSES
New
Definition dialog box for selected entity
Cam_follower_connection_name
Copy
Info > Details
Definition dialog box for selected entity
Browser window with detailed summary for selected entity
Servo_motor_name
* Force_motor_name
*Spring_name
*Damper_name
* Force_torque_name
* Initial_condition_name
Delete
Copy
Info > Details
Definition dialog box for selected entity
Browser window with detailed summary for selected entity
Gear_name (under CONNECTIONS > GEARS).
Delete
Info > Details
Gear Pair Definition dialog box
Browser window with detailed summary for selected gear pair connection
Rotation Axis, Translation Axis (underCONNECTIONS > JOINTSJoint_name).
Servo Motor
Force Motor
Spring
Damper
Motion Axis dialog box
Servo Motor Definition dialog box
Force Motor Definition dialog box
Spring feature tab
Damper feature tab
Rotation Axis, Translation Axis (under name of entity)
Motion Axis dialog box
Analysis_name
Delete
Copy
Run
Info > Details
Analysis Definition dialog box
Run dialog box: analysis begins
Browser window with detailed summary of analysis definition
PLAYBACKS
Play
Playback dialog box
Playback_name
Play
Save
Animate dialog box
Save the playback file