How to use the "Gearing" function in softmotion

[joseph.davidow]

I have designed a simple gear set-up in solidworks. My first gear is connected to the rotary motor and the second gear is mated to the first one. When using softmotion functions, the gearing has a master axis and a numerator and denominator. I don't know what to connect to what and how? 

Attached is a word file with my print screens.

[Brian_Beal]

The gearing function block is for multiple axes.  It "electronically" gears 2 or more axes together.  Instead of have a driveshaft between 2 axes, the gearing function block is used.

[joseph.davidow]

Are there any examples that i can look at because i'm not sure I understand

[Brian_Beal]

You need 2 axes to use the gearing function block.  The master and the slave(resource).  The function block allows one or more axes to follow a master axis.  Not sure about the NI stuff, but a master can be another motor, just an encoder, or a virtual axis.  This function block has nothing to do with physical gears. 

[Kristoff2]

joseph.davidow,

As Brian mentioned the gearing function in softmotion can be thought of as a virtual gear.  It allows you to control one axis relative to another.  

Say for example you have 2 motors and you always want axis 2 to spin twice as fast as axis 1.  You can use the gearing function in soft motion to create a 'virtual' 1:2 gear between axis 1 and 2.  Then you only need to create a motion trajectories for axis 1 and axis 2 will automatically be driven at twice the speed of axis 1.

Please let us know if you have any more questions.

Regards,

Sam K

Applications Engineer

National Instruments