Joint Toolstack

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joint tools

revolute Revolute Joint Tool: Creates a joint that allows for a rotation of one part with respect to another about a common axis. The joint’s orientation defines the rotational axis’ direction. There are two options that you have with the revolute joint other than the axis. You can select if you want the joint with one location so that you choose one object and ADAMS selects the other (this is most often ground), you can also choose two objects and either one or two locations. If you choose one location the joint remains fixed on the first part and moves relative to the second part. If you choose two locations you are able to select both objects and pick where the joint is on each of them. The other option that you have is choosing if you want the object to be Normal to the Grid or if you want to Pick a Geometry Feature. The difference is that picking a geometry feature allows you to orient the joint along a direction vector on a feature in your model, such as the face of a part while if it is normal to the grid it is just that, done with respect to the grid. (Note: These options apply to most joints)

hooke Hooke/Universal Joint Tool: The Hooke/Universal joint allows for the rotation of one rigid body to be transferred to another. The location point of the universal joint represents the connection point of the two parts. For a Hooke joint, two shaft axes leading to the cross bars identify the axes about which the two parts are permitted to rotate with respect to each other. For a universal joint, the cross bars identify the axes about which the two parts are permitted to rotate with respect to each other. Like the Revolute Joint you also have two options with this joint, they are the same as with the previous joint.

lock Fixed Joint Tool: The fixed joint creates a lock between two parts so that they cannot move with respect to each other. For fixed joints the location and orientation of the joint often do not affect the simulation. The normal options for joints apply to this one as well.

translational Translational Joint Tool: This tool allows one object to translate in a certain direction with respect to something, either ground or another object. The way the tool works is that you choose if you want the object constrained with respect to 1 location (the object) and ground or two different bodies. The other option that you have is choosing the reference frame of the joint, it can be set for the normal grid or to an object.

vel joint Constant-Velocity Joint Tool: The constant-velocity joint is a bit more complex, it creates a joint that allows two rotations on one part with respect to another part, while remaining coincident and maintaining a constant velocity through the spin axis. Like most joints you have the same two options in terms of selecting the body/location option and the grid for the joint.

point-curve Point-Curve Constraint Tool: The point-curve constraint restricts a fixed point defined on one part to lie on a curve defined on a second part. The first part is free to roll and slide on the curve that is fixed to a second part. The curve on the second part can be planar or spatial or open or closed. The first part cannot lift off the second part; it must always lie on the curve. A point-curve constraint removes two translational degrees of freedom from your model.  The option for this tool is if you want the curve to be a real curve or the edge of an object.

cyl joint Cylindrical Joint Tool: Creates a cylindrical joint that allows both relative rotation as well as relative translation of one part with respect to another part. A cylindrical joint can be located anywhere along the axis about which the parts can rotate or slide with respect to each other. The orientation of the cylindrical joint defines the direction of the axis about which the parts can rotate or slide along with respect to each other. The rotational axis of the cylindrical joint is parallel to the orientation vector and passes through the location. Same options as all joints.

coupler joint Coupler Joint Tool: This is a more complex type of joint. It relates the translational and/or rotational motion of the joints through a linear scaling of the relative motions. Couplers are useful if your model uses belts and pulleys or chains and sprockets to transfer motion and energy. Although you can couple only two or three joints, more than one coupler can come from the same joint, as shown in the figure above. When you create a coupler, you can only create a two-joint coupler. You select the driver joint, the joint to which the second joint is coupled, and the coupled joint, the joint that follows the driver joint. To specify the relationship between the driver and the coupled joint or to create a three-joint coupler, you modify the coupler. (Note: You need joints in existence to use this one.)

2D curve 2D Curve-Curve Constraint Tool: A curve-curve constraint restricts a curve defined on the first part to remain in contact with a second curve defined on a second part. The curve-curve constraint is useful for modeling cams where the point of contact between two parts changes during the motion of the mechanism. The curve-curve constraint removes three degrees of freedom from your model. The curves always maintain contact, even when the dynamics of the model might actually lift one curve off the other. You can examine the constraint forces to determine if any lift-off should have occurred. If your results require an accurate simulation of intermittent contact, you should model the contact forces directly using a vector force. This, like the point-curve joint, has the option to select either a curve or an edge for both the first and second constraints.

sphere joint Spherical Joint Tool: Creates a spherical joint that allows the free rotation about a common point of one part with respect to another part. The location of the spherical joint determines the point about which the joint’s parts can pivot freely with respect to each other. Same options as all joints.

screw Screw Joint Tool: Creates a screw joint that specifies the rotation of one part about an axis, as the part translates along the axis with respect to a second part. The screw joint does not require that the two parts remain parallel with respect to the axis of rotation and translation. However, the z-axis of the coordinate system marker on the first part and the z-axis of the coordinate system marker on the second part must always be parallel and co-directed. After you create a screw joint, you need to specify the pitch value. The pitch value is the distance from one peak on a thread of the screw to the next thread. It defines the amount of translational displacement of the first part for every rotation of the second part about the axis of rotation. Same options as all joints.

planar joint Point Joint Tool: Creates a planar joint that allows a plane on one part to slide and rotate in the plane of another part. The location of the planar joint determines a point in space through which the joint’s plane of motion passes. The orientation vector of the planar joint is perpendicular to the joint’s plane of motion. The rotational axis of the planar joint, which is normal to the joint’s plane of motion, is parallel to the orientation vector. Same options as all joints.

gear Gear Joint Tool: Creates a gear pair that relates the motion of three parts and two joints using a marker, called the common velocity (CV) marker, to determine the point of contact. The Gear Joint tool connects two of the parts, which are called the geared parts, by coupling together the allowable degrees of freedom in two joints. The coupled joints are attached to the third part, called the carrier part. The joints can be translational, revolute, or cylindrical joints. Using different combinations of joint types and orientations, you can model many different physical gears, including spur, helical, planetary, bevel, and rack-and-pinion. When you create the joints to be geared together, you must create them so the first part you select is a geared part and the second part is the carrier part. Therefore, the I marker parameters of the joints must belong to the geared parts and the J marker parameters must belong to the carrier part. In addition, the CV marker must belong to the carrier part. The gear uses the location of the CV marker to determine the point of contact or mesh of the two geared parts. The direction of the z-axis of the common velocity marker points in the direction of the common motion of the geared parts. This is also the direction in which the gear teeth forces act. The location of the CV marker is constant with respect to the carrier part. Its location does not change when the direction of power flows through the gear changes.

parallel joint Parallel Axes Joint Tool: The parallel axes joint constrains the z-axis of one part to the z-axis of another part. The first part you pick is constrained with respect to the second part. Same options as all joints.

per joint Perpendicular Axes Joint Tool: Much like the parallel axis joint the perpendicular axes tool constrains the z-axis of one object to another such that they are at all time perpendicular to each other. Same options as all joints.

or joint Orientation Joint Tool: The orientation tool constrains all the axes of the first object to match that of the second. Same options as all joints.

inplane joint Inplane Joint Tool: The inplane joint constrains two objects such that their planes remain the same. Same options as all joints.

inline joint Inline Joint Tool: This constrains one part so that it can only move along a straight line defined on a second part, the first object is constrained to the second. The location of the inline joint on the first part must remain on the z-axis of the second part. Same options as all joints.


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