MotionView User's Guide

Collectors

Collectors

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Collectors

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A collector is a yellow button on a panel that enables you to select an entity type either graphically or from the Select an "Entity" dialog.  A panel can contain any number of collectors, but only one can be active at a time.  Entities can only be selected from an active collector.  A collector is active when it is enclosed in a blue rectangle, as shown in the image below.

body_and_point_collectors

Body and point collectors

The label on the collector indicates the current entity type.  Most collectors also display the name of the current selected entity in the field next to it.  If no entity is selected, the field will display the label "Unresolved".

collector_label

Collector label

Some collectors have a collector switch that allows you to change the entity type from a combo box.  When the combo box is expanded, a list of available entity types is displayed.  Only one type of entity can be selected at a time.

point_combo

A collector with a combo box

hmtoggle_plus1To activate a collector:
1.Click on an inactive collector (one without a blue rectangle surrounding it).

The active collector now has a blue rectangle around it.
hmtoggle_plus1To change the entity type using the combo box:
1.Click on the collector switch, mv_collector_switch.

A list of entity types is displayed.

point_combo

2.Select an entity type.

The new entity type is displayed in the collector.
hmtoggle_plus1To select an entity graphically:
1.Click on an inactive collector.  An inactive collector DOES NOT have a blue rectangle surrounding it.

The collector is activated (surrounded by a blue rectangle).

2.Hover the mouse cursor over any entity in the graphics window and click.

All entities that are not of the current type are dimmed.

3.With the mouse button clicked/pressed down, when the mouse is hovered over a selectable entity, that entity is highlighted and its label is displayed in a help bubble near the cursor.
4.Release the mouse button to select the entity.

The label of the selected entity is displayed in the field next to the collector.

Add and Select an Entity Using Geometry

Starting in version 14.0.110, MotionView allows you to create and select certain types of entities in a collector by picking an edge or surface of certain Graphic entities.  To enable this feature, activate the Allow CAD feature recognition for picking option in the Build Model section of the Options dialog.

options_build_model_allow_cad_fr_picking_option_mv

Currently, the following three reference entities can be added on-the-fly and selected while defining other entities, using the appropriate collectors available on its panel:

•Point
•Vector
•3D Cartesian Curve

The Graphic entities that allow such operations are: Cylinder, Box, and CADGraphics.

hmtoggle_plus1To add and select a point entity:
1.Activate a point collector on any panel.

collectors_joint_panel_example_mv

Activated point collector on a joint panel

2.Hover the mouse over an edge or a surface of a graphic entity mentioned above (Cylinder, Box, or CADGraphic).  The location where the point can be created is indicated with a cross.
-A red cross indicates the current location where the point would be created if clicked.
-A yellow cross indicates other potential locations for the point.
-To pick any of the locations at the red cross, move the mouse towards that location.  When the mouse cursor is closer to the location, the yellow cross turns red.
-When the cursor is on an edge away from any of its vertices, the center of the edge is the only location available for creating/selecting the point.

Points can be added using following graphics entities:

Straight edge (edge center or at either ends)

collectors_straight_edge_example_mv

Point on edge at center

Point on edge at end

Closed/Open circular edge (at either ends or circle/arc center)

collectors_closed_open_circular_edge_mv

Point at closed circle center

Point at closed circle end

collectors_arc_center_mv

Point at arc center

Spline edge (at either ends or edge center)

collectors_spline_edge_mv

Point at spline center

Cylindrical surface (center of axis)

collectors_cylindrical_surface_mv

Point at cylindrical surface center

3.Click to create/add a point at that location.

The point is automatically selected in the collector.

Note - A label and varname is automatically assigned to the newly created point.  This newly created point is simultaneously used in the panel of the parent entity being created.

hmtoggle_plus1To add and select a vector entity:
1.Activate the vector collector available on any panel.

collectors_joint_panel_vector_example_mv

Activated vector collector on a joint panel

Vectors can be added using following graphics entities:

Straight edge

collectors_vector_straight_edge_example_mv

Vector using straight edge (+ve)

Vector using straight edge (-ve)

Axis of Cylindrical and Conical surface

collectors_cylindrical_conical_surface_mv

Vector using cylindrical surface

Vector using conical surface
2.Move the cursor over a graphics entity.

The possible vector entity is highlighted in red.

3.Hover the cursor along the graphics entity until the vector is aligned in the required direction (as indicated by the arrow head).  The vector direction is determined by the bias of position of the cursor towards the end of the edge or surface.
4.At this instance, click to add a vector.

The vector is automatically selected into the collector.

Note - A label and varname is automatically assigned to the newly created vector.