Importing 3D Assemblies - E.g. SolidWorks - Revision history

MartinW at 08:47, 7 July 2023

2023-07-07T08:47:52Z

MartinW: /* Grouping common objects */

2023-07-07T08:10:49Z

Grouping common objects

MartinW at 08:09, 7 July 2023

2023-07-07T08:09:46Z

MartinW at 15:45, 6 July 2023

2023-07-06T15:45:24Z

MartinW at 08:51, 4 July 2023

2023-07-04T08:51:20Z

MartinW: Created page with "Flowcode is primarily a software package for the design of microcontroller systems that oﬀers a ﬂowchart based method of programming. For those new to programming, this is..."

2023-06-07T12:55:41Z

Created page with "Flowcode is primarily a software package for the design of microcontroller systems that oﬀers a ﬂowchart based method of programming. For those new to programming, this is..."

New page

Flowcode is primarily a software package for the design of microcontroller systems that oﬀers a ﬂowchart based method of programming. For those new to programming, this is ideal as the visual implementation of ﬂowcharts can be easier to understand. For those with programming experience, Flowcode oﬀers the distinct advantage of speed, reducing the rapid prototyping stage of development. It is also used for the complete development cycle in many applications.
With advances in technology and in particular the electronics industry, engineers of all disciplines are now expected to understand microcontrollers to some basic level. In Flowcode, engineers can create complex systems in minutes.
Alongside this ﬂowchart method of programming, Flowcode oﬀers a powerful 3D simulator package. This allows users to verify their program before downloading code to hardware. The 3D environment is ideal for electromechanical systems where motors, servos, actuators can all be visually represented. Users can characterise and program 3D electromechanical systems with ease. Alongside these electromechanical components, users
can import and characterise 3D systems, such as windmills, car steering racks, electric fans and many more. In fact, Flowcode allows users to simulate almost any electromechanical system. If we haven’t already got a 3D system that suits your needs, you can design your own in a dedicated 3D package and import it into Flowcode.

Flowcode supports the importing of 3D model assemblies in the industry standard formats of STEP, IGES and OBJ. This allows users to create their 3D models in dedicated drawing packages such as Solidworks,
Autodesk Inventor or DesignSpark Mechanical and import them into Flowcode. One imported, users can ‘link’ objects to motors, servos and actuators to create their own 3D systems.

Creating your own 3D electromechanical system can be achieved in as little as 4 steps;

1. Create/ obtain the 3D model that you want to simulate in Flowcode
2. Import the model into Flowcode
3. Characterise your model
a. Group any common objects
b. Assign links to objects to allow movement
4. Create your ﬂowchart

In this guide we will walk through the 4 steps required to import and characterise your own 3D model in Flowcode. We will assume you have created a simple fan, and want to simulate the rotation of the object with a DC motor.

===Create/ obtain the 3D model that you want to simulate in Flowcode===

First users must either create their own 3D system, or obtain a model from elsewhere. We will assume you are creating your own 3D model. There are a few things to remember;

Flowcode oﬀers a 3D simulation environment, however, it is not a dedicated 3D drawing package. You will be simulating high-level electromechanical systems. When creating your own models for simulation, keep them as simple as possible, this will improve the simulation performance within Flowcode. For example, there’s no need to import a 3D model which includes multiple screws, all with a ﬁne thread pitch and detailed screw head! Either simplify your model resolution, or remove unnecessary elements.Flowcode supports STEP, IGES, OBJ and STL ﬁle formats, however, STL ﬁles do not work as assemblies. Save your model in any of the appropriate ﬁle formats and remember the saved location.

[[File:SolidWorks1.png]]

Note: For STEP ﬁles, the STEP 214 ﬁle format works best with Flowcode.

[[File:SolidWorks2.png]]

With your 3D model saved, you can now import it into Flowcode. 3D models are imported by navigating to File->Import 3D Model… (note; you must have an opened ﬂowchart for the import 3D model menu to appear).

The import model dialogue will appear as seen below, where users can import the following ﬁle types;
1. .MESH
2. .OBJ
3. .STEP
4. .IGES
5. .STL

If you import an .OBJ, .STL, .STEP or .IGES ﬁle, Flowcode will need to convert that ﬁle to its native ﬁle format. If you import a .MESH ﬁle, it will already be in the appropriate ﬁle format.
When converting a ﬁle, you will be presented with the dialogue box below;

[[File:SolidWorks3.png]]

When importing models into Flowcode, it is advised again to do so at the lowest/ most coarse resolution. If this works ﬁne, you may wish to increase the resolution to improve the visual look.
From the image below it can be seen that the fan assembly has imported as one assembly, containing 2 parts, which we have named ‘Case’ and ‘Fan’.

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:47, 7 July 2023
Line 86:		Line 86:
	case into one object. Drag a box around the objects you want to group together, Right-click and select '''Selection''' > '''Group''' and it will combine the objects into a group. You can then change the name of		case into one object. Drag a box around the objects you want to group together, Right-click and select '''Selection''' > '''Group''' and it will combine the objects into a group. You can then change the name of
	this group in the panel properties		this group in the panel properties
		+
		+	If you get stuck creating the project then the rotating fan example and the step file can be downloaded.
		+
		+	{{Fcfile\|Fan_rotation_v1.fcfx\|Fan rotation Example}}
		+
		+	[[File:Fan_Cooler_Assembly.STEP]]

@@ Line 84: / Line 84: @@
 then link the motor to the object in the same way as the previous step, however, they should link to the
 name of the group rather than a specific object. Although the fan and the case are already grouped by default and here we have shown how to group objects, combining both the fan and
-case into one object. Drag a box around the objects you want to group together, Right-click and select '''Selection'''>'''Group'''and it will combine the objects into a group. You can then change the name of
+case into one object. Drag a box around the objects you want to group together, Right-click and select '''Selection''' > '''Group''' and it will combine the objects into a group. You can then change the name of
 this group in the panel properties

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 Since we want to create a fan based on a DC motor, we first add a motor to our simulation panel. We will add the
-Motor – (Full Bridge) from the ‘Mechatronics’ component category. It should be placed in the centre of the fan, as the pivot point will be the centre of the motor component.
+Motor – (Full Bridge) Select the Components Ribbon>Search enter motor. Within Motor Template, you will need DC Motor [3D]. It should be placed in the centre of the fan, as the pivot point will be the centre of the motor component.
 [[File:SolidWorks5.png]]
-We have customised two of the properties here, the speed, and the target object. We set the motor speed to 50,
+We have customised two of the properties here, the speed, and the target object. We set the motor speed to -500,
-although we could have chosen any value between 0-250, and we selected that the target object would be ‘Fan’. This will
+although we could have chosen any negative value, if too high then the fan would either appear stationary or spin in the wrong direction. The target object would be ‘Fan’. This will
-then cause the fan object to rotate whenever the motor rotates
+then cause the fan object to rotate whenever the motor rotates.

@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 Each part is renamed via the '''Handle''' property.
-Properties window can be opened by clicking View ribbon and selecting '''Component Properties'''
+The Properties window can be opened by selecting View ribbon and selecting '''Component Properties''' or select the fan on the 3D panel, right-click, and selecting properties.
 Either select the part to be renamed from the 3D panel or by the dropdown arrow on top of the properties window.
 Select the text next to the '''Handle''' entry and enter the desired name.

@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 The import model dialogue will appear as seen below, where users can import the following ﬁle types;
-. .MESH
+# .MESH
-. .OBJ
+# .OBJ
-. .STEP
+# .STEP
-. .IGES
+# .IGES
-. .STL
+# .STL
 If you import an .OBJ, .STL, .STEP or .IGES ﬁle, Flowcode will need to convert that ﬁle to its native ﬁle format. If you import a .MESH ﬁle, it will already be in the appropriate ﬁle format.
@@ Line 47: / Line 47: @@
 When importing models into Flowcode, it is advised again to do so at the lowest/ most coarse resolution. If this works ﬁne, you may wish to increase the resolution to improve the visual look.
-From the image below it can be seen that the fan assembly has imported as one assembly, containing 2 parts, which we have named ‘Case’ and ‘Fan’.
+From the image below it can be seen that the fan assembly has imported as one assembly, containing 2 parts, which we will rename ‘Case’ and ‘Fan’.