MECHANISM DESIGN I – (BE5_WILDFIRE3)

Tutorial Lesson 2 - Assembling a Mechanism

** We will begin this tutorial with creating our Assembly mechanism. Assembling a mechanism is similar
to the normal assembly method. However, instead of using constraints such as Mate and Align, we use
connections like pins, sliders, and ball joints. You can create a mechanism a couple of different ways.
Either create a new mechanism, or redefine an existing assembly that you used with constraint methods.
In this example, we will create a new mechanism assembly from scratch. Make sure your working
directory has the appropriate files in it. Also, use the default assembly templates. **

 FILE Menu: #New, #Assembly, <my_motion>, #OK

 INSERT Menu: #Component, #Assemble…
 OPEN Dialog Box: [base.prt], #Open
 DASHBOARD: #Default (Change Drop Down from “Automatic”), #Green Check

** Your assembly should look similar to the previous image. **

** Next step is to add the platform to the assembly using the proper pin connection. **

FroTime, Inc. Copyright 2009- Do Not Duplicate – www.FroTime.com Page 5

 MECHANISM DESIGN I – (BE5_WILDFIRE3)

 INSERT Menu: #Component, #Assemble…

 OPEN Dialog Box: Name: [platform.prt], #Open
 DASHBOARD: (Change “User Defined” Drop Down) #Pin, #Placement, [select axis
 A1 of the platform], [select axis A-1 of the base], [select top surface of platform], [select
 top surface of base “rim”], #Green Check

** Use the following 2 images for reference to position the platform correctly. **

FroTime, Inc. Copyright 2009- Do Not Duplicate – www.FroTime.com Page 6

 MECHANISM DESIGN I – (BE5_WILDFIRE3)

** Your mechanism assembly should look like the following image. **

FroTime, Inc. Copyright 2009- Do Not Duplicate – www.FroTime.com Page 7

 MECHANISM DESIGN I – (BE5_WILDFIRE3)

** Next step is to connect the teacup onto the platform. Movement of the teacup is similar to that of the
platform, so we can use the same connection strategy. **

 INSERT Menu: #Component, #Assemble…

 OPEN Dialog Box: Name: [teacup.prt], #Open
 DASHBOARD: (Change “User Defined” Drop Down) #Pin, #Placement, [select axis A1 of
the teacup], [select axis A-3 of the platform], [select bottom surface of teacup], [select
top surface of platform], #Green Check

** Use the following image for reference to setup the Pin connection correctly. **

FroTime, Inc. Copyright 2009- Do Not Duplicate – www.FroTime.com Page 8