Flexibility in a 3D mechanics structure can be modeled using constraint joints. All you have to do is:
| 1. | Insert a joint into the editor. |
| 2. | Click Edit Joint to open the Joint Properties. |
| 3. | Click on the More button to show the advanced properties. |
| 4. | Select the As Constraint Joint option. |
| 5. | Now you will see the Constraint Settings button. Click this button. |
The Joint Constraint Settings dialog will open.
| 4. | In this dialog you can Override the General Spring Damper Values, |
| 5. | and select the desired stiffness and damping for the joint. |
| • | If you do not choose Override the General Spring Damper Values, the global settings for constraint joints are used which can be specified in the Model Settings dialog. |
| • | Only the degrees of freedom which are fixed by the joint, can be set by spring damper values. In the dialog above the spring damper values of an X-rotation joint are shown. The rotation around the x-axis can not be restricted by a spring damper. If you want to insert flexibility in all directions and rotations, use a weld joint to override the general spring damper values. |
| • | You can choose the option Generate Global Parameters to make the spring damper values available as global parameters. |
