SW Motor Dynamics and Motion Analysis
Setting Up Dynamic Study

Setting Up a Motion Analysis: Access the Motion Study tab to start a new study or RMB the tab > Create New Motion Study > from the study type drop-down menu (Animation, Basic Motion, Motion Analysis) select Motion Analysis. Note that if Motion Analysis is not avilable in the drop-down menu you might need to load it from the Add-in menu: Tools > Add-ins > SolidWorks Motion.

Defining a Rotary Motor: in the study toolbar click the Motor icon > in the Motor menu select Motor type: Rotary Motor, Component/Direction: select motor shaft location, Motion drop-down: Data points > In the Function Builder window select Value (y): velocity (deg/s), Independent variable (x): Time (s), Interpolation Type: Linear > in the Time (s)-Value table enter the angular velocity profile > Ok > Ok.

Running and Displaying Analysis Results: Make sure the time key position matches the time parameter of the motor > RMB on the time key > Edit Key Point Time > Click the calculate icon > See the calculation progress and results generated. To display the results: click the Results and Plots icons > the range of data available in the Results window is listed below:

  • Displacement/Velocity/Acceleration ↵
    • Trace Path: Select a point or vertex on the assembly
    • Center of Mass Position: X, Y, Z Component
    • Linear Displacement: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude, Radial, Tangential, Normal
    • Linear Velocity: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude, Radial, Tangential, Normal
    • Linear Acceleration: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude, Radial, Tangential, Normal
    • Angular Displacement: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude
    • Angular Velocity: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude
    • Angular Acceleration: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude
  • Forces ↵
    • Motor Force
    • Motor Torque: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude
    • Reaction Force
    • Reaction Moment
    • Friction Force
    • Friction Moment
    • Contact Force
  • Momentum/Energy/Power ↵
    • Translational Momentum: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude
    • Angular Momentum: X, Y, Z Component, Magnitude
    • Translational Kinetic Energy: no sub-categories
    • Angular Kinetic Energy: no sub-categories
    • Total Kinetic Energy: no sub-categories
    • Potential Energy Delta: no sub-categories
    • Power Consumption: no sub-categories
  • Other quantities ↵
    • Euler Angles
    • Pitch/Yaw/Roll
    • Rodriguez Parameters
    • Bryant Angles
    • Projection Angles
    • Reflected Load Mass
    • Reflected Load Inertia

Once you have chosen the correct data select the actuated component > Ok > a plot of the dynamic magnitud is displayed. When selecting Motor Torque, for example, the component to be selected is the motor icon in the tree, not the actuated component > Ok > a Torque plot is displayed. Motion Analysis is a great tool for Motor/Actuator Sizing.
Mechanical, Advance and Motion Study-specific Mates

Mechanical and Advance mates help create motion studies that analyse entire mechanisms. For example, one can calculate the power consumption required to move or rotate a load using a gear train by matting its components with the Mechanical Gear option. Motion Analysis include the masses of those gear-matted parts to calculate the torque/power needed for motion. The following is a list of the mate options available in SW 2014, note that those with strike lines have little or no support during Motion Analysis:

  • Standard Mates: Coincident, Parallel, Perpendicular, Tangent, Concentric, Lock, Distance, Angle.
  • Advance Mates: Symetric, Width, Path Mate, Linear/Linear Coupler, Distance (range), Angle (range).
  • Mechanical Mates: Cam, Slot, Hinge, Gear, Rack Pinion, Screw, Universal Joint.

Motion study-specific mates are mates you create for a motion study that are independent of the assembly model mates. Using motion study-specific mates, you can create multiple motion studies to analyze model motion with different mates without changing the model.

To create motion study-specific mates: Select a motion study > Add mates to the assembly from the motion study. Motion study-specific mates are listed only on the MotionManager design tree. The string Local prefaces the name of motion study-specific mates. To see that the motion study-specific mates are not part of the assembly model, view the assembly mates from the Model tab.
Redundant Mates and Bushings

The Analysis tab in the Mates menu provide options to include Bushings in a Motion Analysis. By using bushings to represent mates and part stiffness, you can incorporate stiffness in Motion Analysis studies. The more accurately you know the stiffness, the better your results. Introducing Bushings is part of removing redundant mates in an assembly in preparation for a Motion Analysis. In the mate Property Manager menu select the Analysis Tab > Bushing > set parameters > Ok. The Update Initial Animation State dialog box might appear. You can click Yes or No to dismiss it. Next, close the property manager window > Click Calculate (MotionManager toolbar) to test the mate redundancies. Note the updated mate icon now includes an icon bushing.
Contact in a Motion Study

Define contact in a motion study to prevent parts from penetrating each other during motion. You can include Contact with Basic Motion and Motion Analysis. From the MotionManager Toolbar select > Contact icon: for the contact type select Solid Bodies or Curves. If you uncheck the Material option you can override the material properties assigned to each part.

Copyright © 2015 Estiven R. Sierra