M# Links Menu

The commands in the M# Links menu are used to create and edit the M# Links on a structure model.

• The M# Links are used to display shapes in animation on a structure model

• Each M# Link contains the M#s used to fetch data from an Animation Source Any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is open in the Work Area is an Animation Source. The currently connected Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Toolbar in the Structure window. During animation, data from each M# in the current Animation Source is animated using the Animation equations for each Point on the structure model. file during shape animation

• All M# Links are saved with the Structure file when it is saved in its Project file

• M#s in an Animation Source Any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is open in the Work Area is an Animation Source. The currently connected Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Toolbar in the Structure window. During animation, data from each M# in the current Animation Source is animated using the Animation equations for each Point on the structure model. file are linked to Points & directions on the structure model by executing M# Links | Create M# Links in the Structure window or M# Links | Create M# Links in an Animation Source Any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is open in the Work Area is an Animation Source. The currently connected Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Toolbar in the Structure window. During animation, data from each M# in the current Animation Source is animated using the Animation equations for each Point on the structure model. window

M# Links | Measurement Axes

This command opens and closes the Measurement Axes tab, as shown below.

The Measurement Axes at each Point allow you to mount each sensor in the most convenient direction at each Point

• Measurement Axes are used to define the directions of the measurements at each Point

• The Measurement Axes of each Point are defaulted to coincide with the Global X, Y, Z axes of the structure model, but the Measurement Axes do not have to coincide with the Global axes

Structure Showing Cylindrical Measurement Axes.

To display the Measurement Axes for a Point,

• Check Show Axes on the Measurement Axes tab.

• Select a Point to display its Measurement Axes.

• The three Measurement Axes can be labeled as rectangular, cylindrical, spherical or machine coordinates. Different symbols are used to label each axis, according to the table below.

Rotating the Measurement Axes

• Press one of the Rotate arrows to rotate the Measurement axes of all selected Points about a Measurement or Global axis.

Rotational Increment

• The amount of rotational increment (in degrees) that the Measurement Axes will rotate each time a rotate arrow is pressed.

Reset button

• Returns the Measurement Axes to their default position.

M# Links | Links Editor

This command opens and closes the M# Links Editor tab, as shown below.  This tab displays the current M# Links at each selected Point.

• Each M# Link a weighted summation of measurements (or M#s) used to retrieve data from the Animation Source Any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is open in the Work Area is an Animation Source. The currently connected Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Toolbar in the Structure window. During animation, data from each M# in the current Animation Source is animated using the Animation equations for each Point on the structure model.  that is currently connected to the structure window

• Each Point on a structure model is animated by using data the Animation Source Any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is open in the Work Area is an Animation Source. The currently connected Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Toolbar in the Structure window. During animation, data from each M# in the current Animation Source is animated using the Animation equations for each Point on the structure model. for each M# in its M# Link

• The M# Links in a Structure (STR) file and can be used to animate shape data from any connected Animation Source

• Each DOF (Point & direction) on a structure model either has a Measured M# Link, an Interpolated M# Link, or it is Fixed DOF

Each M# in a Data Block or Acquisition window has a unique M#
Each shape DOF in the M#s spreadsheet of a Shape Table has a unique M#

Measured M# Links

• Each measured Point & direction on a structure model is animated by evaluating its Measured M# Link

• Measured M# Links are created by executing M# Links | Create M# Links in the Structure window or M# Links | Create M# Links in a connected Animation Source Any Data Block, Shape Table, or Acquisition window that is open in the Work Area is an Animation Source. The currently connected Animation Source is displayed in the Animation Source list on the Toolbar in the Structure window. During animation, data from each M# in the current Animation Source is animated using the Animation equations for each Point on the structure model. window

Interpolated M# Links

• Each un-measured DOF (that are also not a Fixed DOF) is animated by evaluating its Interpolated M# Link

• Interpolated M# Links are created from the Measured M# Links of nearby Points and by also taking into account Fixed DOFs of nearby Points.

• Interpolated M# Links are created by executing M# Links | Create Interpolated M# Links in the Structure window

Fixed DOFs

• All Fixed DOFs will not move during animation.

• Fixed DOFs are created for all selected Points by executing M# Links | Fix DOFs in the Structure window

Animation Equation Tab.

Different types of M# Links can be created at each Point,

Translation M# Links

• Vibration data and acoustic intensity are Translation data. That is they have direction associated with each measurement

• Up to three Translational M# Links can be crated at each Point, one in Measurement Axis direction

Scalar M# Links

• Sound pressure level (SPL SPL is an acronym for Sound Pressure Level. An SPL is a measure of the RMS sound pressure relative to a reference value. It is measured in logarithmic units of decibels (dB) above a standard reference level. A common reference level used is 20 μPa RMS, which is considered the threshold of human hearing.), sound power, temperature or pressure data are examples of Scalar data.

• A single Scalar M# Link can be created at each Point

• Scalar data is typically animated using color contours on a surface model

Machine Rotations M# Links

• Machine rotational data is measured from a rotating shaft

• Up to three Machine Rotation M# Links can be created at each Center Point Any Point that is referenced in the Center Point column of the Points spreadsheet in a Structure window. A Point that references a Center Point is called a Radial Point. If a Center Point has a Machine Rotation Animation equation, all Radial Points that reference the Center Point will exhibit rotational motion about the Center Point during animation. Center Points are also created to make a SubStructure rotate during animation. Rotation occurs about the Z-axis of a Center Point. To make a SubStructure rotate during animation, a non-zero speed must be entered in the RPM column, and Yes selected in the Rotation column of the SubStructures spreadsheet., in each Measurement Axis direction

• Machine rotational data is animated by displaying the rigid body rotation of all shaft Radial Points that reference a shaft Center Point

FEA Rotations M# Links

• FEA FEA is an acronym for Finite Element Analysis. FEA involves creating an FEA model by adding FEA elements (called FEA Objects in ME'scope) to a structure model. The FEA model can be solved for its FEA modes, and also used for other analyses in ME'scope. modal shapes can contain as many as three Translational DOFs and three Rotational DOFs at each Point

• Up to three FEA Translation M# Links and up to three Rotational M# Links can be created at each Point, in each Measurement Axis direction

Examining the M# Links

• Execute M# Links | Links Editor to display the M# Links tabs

• Select a Point to display its M# Links

Links Editor Tab Showing Measured M# Links.

M# Links | Create M# Links

Creates M# Links for all (or selected) Points on the structure mode.

This command is the same as Animate | Create M# Links in a Data Block, Acquisition or Shape Table window.

• M# Links are created for Points & directions on the structure model using the measurements (M#s) in the connected Animation Source

• See Animate | Create M# Links in the Data Block command reference chapter for details.)

M# Links | Create Interpolated M# Links

Creates M# Links for all (or selected) Points & directions that don't have Measured M# L:inks

• Interpolated M# Links provide animation for all un-measured DOFs on the structure model.

• Each Interpolated M# Link is created as a weighted summation of the M# Links of neighboring Measured DOFs including the influence of Fixed DOFs

• The weighted summation of M#s is based on the geometric distance of Measured and Fixed Points from the un-measured Point.

When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened.

Each Point has one of the following types of Measurement Axes,

• Check the first, second, or third axis direction for creating Interpolated M# Links, and click on OK.

In dialog box above, you can specify the maximum number of nearest Measured &Fixed DOFs to be used when creating each Interpolated M# Link.

• Enter a maximum number of nearest Measured & Fixed Points (1 to 10), and click on OK.

M# Links | Interpolated to Measured Links

This command converts the Interpolated M# Links to Measured M# Links for all (or selected) Points.

• Converting Interpolated M# Links to Measured M# Links insures that they will always be used during animation, whether or not Animate | Using Interpolated Links is checked.

When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened.

• Four different type of M# Links can be converted; Translation, Scalar, Machine Rotation, FEA Rotation

• Select the Measurement Axes directions for converting the Interpolated M# Links, and click on OK.

M# Links | Fix directions

This command is used to fix directions of all (or selected) Points so that they will not move in the fixed directions during animation. When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened.

• Select the Measurement Axes directions to be fixed, and click on OK.

M# Links | Fixed to Un-Linked directions

This command is used to convert as Fixed directions to un-linked directions for all (or selected) Points. When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened.

• Select the Measurement Axes directions for converting Fixed to un-linked directions, and click on OK.

M# Links | Delete M# Links

This command is used to delete the M# Links for all (or selected) Points and changes them to Interpolated M#s with no link. When this command is executed, the dialog box shown below is opened.

• Select the Measurement Axes directions for deleting the M#s Links, and click on OK.

M# Links | Show M# Links

When this command is executed, a dialog box is opened giving a choice of the type of Links or Fixed DOFs to display.

Measured M# Links

If checked,Measured M# Links are displayed at each selected Point.

• Measured M# Link directions are indicated with Red Arrows

Measured M# Links Displayed on the Model

Interpolated M# Links

If checked, Interpolated M# Links are displayed at each selected Point.

• Interpolated M# Link directions are indicated with Blue Arrows

Fixed DOFs

If checked, Fixed directions are displayed at each selected Point.

• Fixed directions are indicated with Green Arrows

Fixed DOFs Displayed on the Model.

M# Links | Select M#s

This command is used to select measurements (M#s) in the current Animation Source using the M# Links of selected Points.

• When this command is executed, the current Animation Source window is opened.

• Selected M#s are displayed in the M#s spreadsheet.