Path Trace
Displays the path along which a component moves during an animation
Description
Connections
Parameters
See Also
You can attach this component to a modeling component to show the projected path on which a component moves during an animation. For example, in the double pendulum image below, the traced paths indicate that the left rigid body moves in a circular path and the right rigid body moves along a curved path during an animation.
When the mode is set to Always visible (default), or Drawn over time, the fadeTime parameter does not appear in the Properties tab.
To generate a trace connect the Path Trace component to the frame of one modeling component and run the simulation. The projected path of that connection point appears in the 3-D Playback Window.
Note: To generate a new trace for another mode, the simulation must be re-run.
Name
Modelica ID
frame_a
Connect this frame to the point for which a path is traced.
Default
color
red
Color of the path. For information on using the color selection tools, see Selecting Colors.
Dynamic Color
Select this option to enable the Dynamic Color port. With the Dynamic Color port enabled, you can use the Color Blend component to change color throughout the simulation.
isInputColor
Transparent
Select this option to make the geometry component transparent.
transparent
mode
Always Visible
Specifies the way in which you want the path to be traced. The following options are available:
Always visible - the complete path appears in the 3-D workspace before and during the animation.
Drawn over time - the path appears as the animation is playing. No path is displayed before the animation starts.
Drawn over time then fade - the path appears as the animation is playing and then is removed from the 3-D workspace according to the time value that you specify for the fadeTime parameter. No path is shown before the animation starts.
fadeTime
3s
The fadeTime parameter for the Path Trace is visible when the mode parameter is set to Drawn over time then fade. This parameter specifies the length of time a path appears in the 3-D workspace until it starts to fade.
Visualization Components
Multibody Overview
The 3-D Visualization Environment
Adding Attached Shapes From the MapleSim Component Library
Adding Attached Shapes From an External File
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