Create a time-based operation

This example shows how to create a time-based operation that rotates a cylindrical turn unit 90 degrees in 2 seconds.

Note: To create a time-based operation that rotates a component about a base, you must do the following:

• Assign proper body types to geometries.
• Create a Basic Joint — hinge joint between the rotating component and the base.
• Create proper joints between the rotating component, the sliders, and the grippers.

Procedure

1. Choose Home tab → Automation group → Operation.
2. In the Type group, from the list, select Operation.
3. In the Physics Object group, select Select Object.
4. In the graphics window or the Physics Navigator, select the actuator you want to control using the operation. (In this example, the turn unit speed control actuator is selected.) The parameters of the selected actuator appear in the Runtime Parameter list.
5. In the Duration group, in the Time box, enter the total time you want the operation to run, and then press Enter.
6. In the Set column, select the check box next to the speed parameter. The default value for speed is Auto Calculate, which means the speed is calculated automatically.
7. Select the check box next to the position parameter to activate it.
8. In the same row, double-click the Value cell.
9. Type a value for the position parameter of the actuator, and then press Enter. (In this example, since the speed control actuator creates a rotary motion, the position parameter is an angle. A value of 90 is used to rotate the cylindrical turn unit 90 degrees.)
10. In the Name group, type a name for the operation, and then press Enter.
11. Click OK.

Related concepts

• Defining time-based and event-based behaviors
• Export PLCopen XML

Related tasks

• Create an event-based operation
• Select a curve during a simulation
• Pause a simulation on an event
• Convert an operation to sequential function logic
• Export an operation to a PLCopen XML file and convert it to sequential function logic