Introducing SimMechanics (SimMechanics)

SimMechanics

Running a Demo Model

This demo model uses a few blocks in the library to simulate a simple machine with feedback control. You will see how SimMechanics implements the model in conjunction with standard Simulink features.

The demo model simulates a conveyor belt loading mechanism. A simple controller (not shown), with a sensor and an actuator, guides the mechanism with a saturation limit and anti-windup logic for the applied torque. The controller is user-adjustable and sets the stopping point for the pusher.

Conveyor Loader Mechanism

What This Demo Illustrates

The conveyor mechanism demo illustrates some important features of SimMechanics:

Representing bodies and degrees of freedom with Body and Joint blocks, respectively
Using SimMechanics blocks with normal Simulink blocks
Feeding in and feeding out Simulink signals to and from SimMechanics blocks with Actuator and Sensor blocks, respectively
Encapsulating groups of blocks into subsystems
Visualizing and animating a machine by its component bodies

Caution You might want to make modifications to this demo model. To avoid errors, be sure

Not to attempt connecting Simulink signal lines directly to SimMechanics blocks other than Actuators and Sensors
To keep the collocation of the Body coordinate system origins on either side of each assembled Joint to within assembly tolerances

Saving modified demo models in a different directory from the demos is recommended.