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Usage
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| 1 |
The name and function of each part. |
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(1) Parts palette. (disk parts, rod parts, and other parts can be selected
via the upper tab.)
(2) Pins palette and pens palette. (pins and pens can be selected via the
upper tab.)
(3) Move parts tool.
(4) Menu.
(5) Control for automatic simulation.
(6) The slider controlling a manual simulation.
(7) Mouse coordinates display.
(8) Parts arrangement area. |
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| 2 |
Arranging parts. |
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Disk parts, rod parts and other parts on the parts palette can be placed
in the simulation area by left-dragging the mouse.
Red-colored parts are powered and rotate themselves during the simulation.
Only one powered part may be included in a simulation.
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| 3 |
Arranging and rotating parts which are not connected. |
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The parts which are not connected with any other parts can be re-arranged
freely in the simulation area by left-dragging the mouse.
Each part can be rotated to a free angle by left-dragging the mouse while
holding the Shift key on the keyboard.
Parts can also be rotated by choosing "Rotation" in the context
menu displayed by right-clicking the mouse on a part.
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| 4 |
The arrangement of a pins. |
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Pins from the pins palette may be placed into a pinhole of a part in the
simulation area by left-dragging the pin from the palette to the simulation
area.
A round pin is movable and can be arranged only between two parts.
A square pin is fixed, and when running a simulation it is the center of
rotation. During a simulation, it cannot move from the point where it is
placed.
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| 5 |
The movement and rotation of the connected parts. |
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Parts which are connected to other parts via only one pin can be rotated
around the pin point by left-dragging the mouse.
(In the right figure, part(1) rotates.)
Part(2) can rotate around the pin point by left-dragging the mouse while
holding the Shift key on the keyboard.
(In the right figure, part(2) rotates.)
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| 6 |
Using pens. |
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A pen on the pens palette can be placed in a pinhole of parts in the simulation
area by left-dragging the mouse.
Each color pen may be placed only once per simulation.
(A maximum of four different colored pens may be placed in a simulation
simultaneously.)
Placing a pen creates a locus during the simulation.
In addition, keep in mind that the speed of the simulation will probably
be slower when drawing a locus.
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| 7 |
Deletion of a part, a pin, or a pen. |
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To delete a part, pin or pen from the simulation area, choose "Delete"
from the context menu displayed by right-clicking the mouse on the part
which you want to delete.
Be careful, the parts to which pins or pens are connected cannot be deleted.
When deleting a part, first delete the pins or pens connected to the part.
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| 8 |
The property (attribute) display of parts, pins, and pens. |
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To display the property window and attributes of a part, select "Property…"
from the context menu displayed by right-clicking the mouse on a part,
pin, or pen in the simulation area. |
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| 9 |
Moving all of the parts. (four directions.) |
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All the parts arranged in the simulation area can be simultaneously moved
up, down, left or right by clicking the arrows on the move parts tool. |
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| 10 |
Execution of a simulation. (automatic execution.) |
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When pressing the arrows in the controls for automatic simulation, a powered
disk (a red-colored disk) rotates clockwise (right-handed rotation) and
counter-clockwise (left-handed rotation), and the simulation is put into
motion.
The simulation can be stopped by pressing the control arrows during the
simulation.
The speed of rotation can be chosen in the combo box in the controls for
automatic simulation.
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| 11 |
Execution of a simulation. (manual execution.) |
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The manual simulation can be put into motion by left-dragging the slider
for manual simulation.
By operating the slider, the powered disk can be rotated from 0 degrees
to 720 degrees.
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| 12 |
(Menu) Erase Locus. |
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By pressing the "Erase locus" button in the menu, the locus drawn
with the pen is erased. |
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| 13 |
(Menu) Erase All. |
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By pressing the "Erase all" button in the menu, all the parts
in the simulation area are erased. |
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| 14 |
(Menu) Return. |
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By pressing the "Return" button in the menu, the parts are returned to the previous location.
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| 15 |
(Menu) Undo. |
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By pressing the "Undo" button in the menu, the last arrangement or movement operation is returned
to the previous state. |
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| 16 |
(Menu) Redo. |
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By pressing the "Redo" button in the menu, the previous Undo action is canceled. |
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| 17 |
(Menu) Open a model. |
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By pressing the "Open a model" button in the menu, the dialog
window for "Opening the file of a linkage mechanism" is displayed,
and a saved linkage mechanism can be loaded.
The file extension of a saved linkage structure for this "Linkage
mechanism simulator" is "*.lsd".
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| 18 |
(Menu) Save a model. |
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By pressing the "Save a model" button in the menu, the dialog
window for "Saving the data of the linkage mechanism" is displayed,
and the present arrangement of parts in the simulation area can be saved.
The file extension of a saved linkage structure for this "Linkage
mechanism simulator" is "*.lsd".
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| 19 |
(Menu) Save an image. |
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By pressing the "Save an image" button in the menu, the dialog window for "Designating an area" is displayed. Please left-drag the mouse and designate an area which you
want to save.
(The aspect ratio of the designated area is fixed to 4:3.)
By pressing the OK button after selecting an area, the dialog window for "Saving the image of the linkage mechanism" is displayed, and the image of the present parts which are in the simulation
area can be saved as a still picture file.
By selecting the checkbox for continuous image, a series of still pictures
of the powered disk rotating by 20 degrees per image can be saved.
The formats of the file in which still pictures can be saved are JPG, BMP
and GIF.
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| 20 |
(Menu) Print an image. |
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By pressing the "Print an image" button in the menu, the dialog window for "Designating an area" is displayed. Please left-drag the mouse and designate an area which you
want to print.
(The aspect ratio of the designated area is fixed to 4:3.)
By pressing the OK button after selecting an area, the dialog window for "Printing" is displayed. The image of the present parts which are in the simulation
area can be printed out.
By selecting the checkbox for continuous images, a series of still pictures
of the powered disk rotating by 20 degrees per image can be printed out.
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| 21 |
(Menu) Create a movie. |
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By pressing the "Create a movie" button in the menu, the dialog window for "Designating an area" is displayed. Please left-drag the mouse and designate the area of the
image which you want to save.
(The aspect ratio of the designated area is fixed to 4:3.)
By pressing the OK button, after selecting an area, the dialog window for "Saving the linkage mechanism simulation movie" is displayed, and the present simulation which is arranged in the simulation
area can be saved as a movie file or an animation file.
The formats for the file in which a linkage mechanism simulation movie
can be saved are MPEG-1, AVI, or animated GIF.
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| 22 |
(Menu) process display. |
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By pressing the "Process display" button in the menu, the Process Display Window appears.
The process and result of the calculation of the simulation is displayed
in the process display window.
In order to close the process display window, please press the Close button
in the window, or please press the “Disp. Processing” button
in the menu again.
Keep in mind that the speed of the simulation is probably slower when displaying
the process window.
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| 23 |
(Menu) Exit |
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By pressing the Exit button in the menu, the linkage mechanism simulator
ends.
(A confirmation dialog box is displayed before the program exits.) |
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