How to Make Motion Animation in SOLIDWORKS

Creating motion animation in SOLIDWORKS primarily involves using the MotionManager to define how components move over time.

Here's a straightforward way to make motion animation:

Making animation in SOLIDWORKS allows you to visualize the movement and interaction of your assembly components. A fundamental method involves defining the position of parts at different points in time using the MotionManager timeline.

Accessing the MotionManager

Before you start animating, you need to access the MotionManager:

1. Open the assembly you want to animate.
2. Look for the MotionManager tab at the bottom of the graphics area, usually next to the Model and 3D Views tabs.
3. Click on the MotionManager tab to switch to the animation interface.

Creating Animation Keypoints

The MotionManager interface includes a timeline with a time bar. This is where you define the animation sequence.

As described in the reference, you can create an animation by dragging the time bar along the timeline to a point in time, and then moving a component to a target location. This process automatically creates keypoints on the timeline for that component, marking its position at that specific time.

Here are the basic steps using this method:

1. Set the initial position: Your components should be in their starting position in the assembly. This implicitly sets the first keypoint at time 0.
2. Drag the Time Bar: Click and drag the time bar (the vertical line on the timeline) to the desired time point where you want the component to be in a new position (e.g., 2 seconds, 5 seconds).
3. Move the Component: In the graphics area, click and drag the component you want to move to its desired location for the time point you selected. You can also use SOLIDWORKS' move/rotate tools.
4. Observe Keypoints: SOLIDWORKS automatically creates keypoints on the component's track in the MotionManager timeline at the start time (time 0) and at the time you dragged the bar to.
5. Repeat for Complex Motion: For more complex motion, repeat steps 2 and 3 at different time points, defining intermediate positions.
6. The MotionManager moves the component from its initial position to the position that you designate at a specified time. SOLIDWORKS interpolates the motion between these keypoints to create a smooth transition.

Adding Other Motion Elements (Optional)

While dragging and moving components is the core method for simple animations, the MotionManager also allows you to add:

• Motors: Define rotational or linear motion for specific components.
• Mates: Utilize existing assembly mates to drive motion.
• Forces/Gravity: Simulate physical interactions.
• Cameras and Lights: Control the view and lighting during the animation.

Simulating and Saving

Once you have defined your keypoints and potentially other motion elements:

• Click the Calculate (or Play) button in the MotionManager to simulate the animation.
• Review the animation in the graphics area.
• If satisfied, click the Save Animation button to export it as a video file (e.g., .avi, .mp4).

By strategically dragging the time bar and moving components, you can quickly build kinematic animations to showcase your designs in motion.