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Mechanical Engineering
MotionGen
...What will you design today?
MotionGen (Pro)How to Use it?

How to Use it?


MotionGen Pro

Watch the videos at this playlist or read the manual:

Live Manual

manual

MotionGen Mobile App (limited functions)

See a two-minute demo of an early version of Motiongen in Dr. Purwar's TEDx talk

Four-bar Linkage Synthesis:

Four-bar Linkage Simulation:

App Settings and Features:

Controls

 Synthesis Menu:
Pose Poses - Input and edit poses. Enter 3 poses with 2 fixed-pivot constraints, 4 poses with 1 fixed-line constraint, or 5 or more poses with no other constraints.
Fixed-Line Fixed-Line Constraint - Draw a fixed line on which fixed pivots should lie for four-position synthesis.
Fixed-Pivot Fixed-Point Constraint - Place two fixed pivots for three-position synthesis.
Arbitrary 5 5 Arbitrary Poses - Synthesizes a linkage based on five random poses.
Arbitrary 4 4 Arbitrary Poses - Synthesizes a linkage based on four random poses and a fixed pivot-line constraint.

 

Simulation Menu
RR RR Dyad - Touch and drag to draw an RR dyad.
PR PR Dyad - Touch and drag to draw a PR dyad.
RP RP Dyad - Touch and drag to draw an RP dyad.
Change Crank Change Crank - Switch the driving dyad.
Change Branch

Change Branch - Switch the configuration to move the coupler to the other circuit.
Change Configuration Change Configuration - Switch the coupler to the other branch of the circuit.

 

Animation Menu
Play Play - Play/Pause the linkage animation.
Stop Stop - Stop the linkage animation and reset the coupler.
Timeline Timeline - Show the animation timeline. Drag the slider to see the linkage throughout the animation.
Capture Pose Capture Poses - Capture the current coupler position. Captured poses can be used to synthesize new linkage solutions from the Menu icon at the top left.

Visualization Menu
Camera Camera - Open the camera to take a picture to use as the background for the workspace. The slider controls the opacity of the background image.
Load Image Load Image - Load an image to use as the background for the workspace. The slider controls the opacity of the background image.
Clear Image Clear Image - Clear the background image.

Menu Options
Menu Menu - Open the side menu. The side menu contains examples, and allows the synthesis of linkages from captured poses.
Home Home - Opens the home screen. The home screen displays all your files and allows you to create new files and delete old ones.
New New - Create a new file. The old file will be saved and can be found on the home screen.
Export Export - Export your linkage to a PDF or XML format. The exported file displays information about your linkage.
Reset View Reset View - Reset the view to focus on the workspace.
Undo Undo - Undo the previous operation.
Redo Redo - Redo the last undone operation.
Delete Delete - Delete the selected element. If no element is selected, the entire linkage will be deleted (this cannot be undone!).