Lesson: Practice 3

Practice: Create a distributed design by inserting knobs, add mechanical joints and modify the
amount of rotation the knobs can achieve.

• Use Joint.
• Modify joint limits.
• Modify the appearance of a component.
• Create a distributed design.

1. Carry on with the file from Practice Exercise 2

and upload the supplied files “Knob2-PE” and
“Knob2-PE”.

2. Drag and drop Knob1 into the canvas area to

insert it into the design.

Lesson: Practice 3 Page | 1

 3. Using the already active move dialog position
the knob in front of the device in the proper
orientation.

NOTE: This isn’t required but it makes selection easier

when applying joints.

4. Select Assembly > Joint or press “J” on the

keyboard. Set the joint type to Revolute and
select the circular edge on the knob where it
will rest on the front panel.

5. Select the circular edge on the front panel for

the second selection and OK the joint.

NOTE: Joint selection and position are critical to the

success of a joint. Ensure you are selecting a circular
edge and its center position.

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 6. Drag and drop an instance of Knob2 into the
design and position it in front of the device.

7. Apply a revolute joint to Knob2 onto the front

panel.

8. Insert Knob2 again or create a copy and apply

a revolute joint to position it at the last hole on
the front panel.

9. Expand the joint folder and rename each joint

with LargeKnob or SmallKnob1 or SmallKnob2.

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 10. Right-click on the joint “LargeKnob” and select
Edit Joint Limits. Modify the maximum rotation
to 180 and OK.

11. Repeat the process to edit the joint limits on

both small knobs with a -90 minimum and 0
maximum rotation amount and save the file.

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