How to Animate a Solidworks Assembly file using Simulink 3D Animation/Simscape Multibody ?

Hello everyone.

I have a simple Solidworks assembly file consisting 2 parts. A base and an arm with revolute joint

I want to import this file to simulink and then using Simulink 3D Animation/Simscape Multibody, I want to give some movement paramaters to animate the model. Such as moving the model from point A to point B while rotating or while moving the arm.

If I manage to do this later on I am planning to add some control schemes and dynamics/kinematics equations.

All the tutorials and guides I could find were quite dated.

Is this possbile to do? If so can anyone suggest a tutorial on how to do this?

I would appreciate showing the right direction as well.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

[Jan Houska]

Hi Nuri,

the first step to animate a geometry in Simulink 3D Animation is to import the geometry to the X3D file format that is native to Simulink 3D Animation. Please see the documentation to learn how to import various file formats. Then, please see the shipping examples to learn how to move individual parts of the imported geometry. Typically, this involves changes coordinates of the Transform nodes in the imported X3D file.

Good Luck, Jan

[Nuri Efe TATLI]

Jan thanks for the answer !

Is it possible for you to direct me to the shipping examples you are talking about ?

Thanks in advance.

[Jan Houska]

Hi Nuri,

virtually any of the Simulink 3D Animation examples show how to move a geometry using the Transform node. For a very simple one, please see vrbounce. For a somewhat more complex one that shows coordination system hierarchy, please see vrmanipul_global or vrplanets. And there are many more, please see the Simulink 3D Animation examples section.

Good Luck, Jan