General

Summary keywords

  • planar mechanisms and linkage design
  • simulation - animation
  • CAD interface, dxf import
  • synthesis
  • automated constrained optimization
  • video export
  • documentation
  • 5 languages
  • support by engineers

SAM (Synthesis and Analysis of Mechanisms) is an interactive PC-software package for the design, analysis (motion and force) and optimization of arbitrary planar mechanisms. Mechanisms can either be generated via the design wizards or they can be assembled from basic components including beams, sliders, gears, belts, springs, dampers and friction elements. Also special elements like curved-slider and rack-and-pinion elements are available. SAM integrates pre-processing, numerical analysis and post processing, such as animation and xy-plots.

Zero learning time and ease of use make SAM the preferred linkage software package for engineers and educational institutes.

The mathematical foundation of the analysis kernel, which is inspired by the well-known finite element approach, offers a large number of features and overcomes many of the problems of traditional mechanism programs. Open loop, closed loop, multiple loop and even complex planetary mechanisms can equally well be analyzed due to the finite element formulation. Even the most complex mechanisms, including planetary gear trains, can be modeled within minutes 

SAM is available in English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch and Chinese.

CAD interface

The DXF import/export facility lets you export your conceptual linkage design to any CAD program to work out the details and it lets you import CAD data to easily set-up the mechanism in SAM and display the animation.

Post-processing

The analysis results can be displayed either in tabular or graphical form. The tabular listing can be viewed on the screen, send to a printer or stored in a readable formatted list file. The x/y plot option allows to plot any variable against time or any other variable. An unlimited number of functions can be combined into one x/y plot with optionally two different scalings to allow proper multiple display of variables with different amplitude ranges. It is possible to output selected data to an external file (ASCII format) for customized post-processing.

SAM can also animate the mechanism motion. As a further aid for the designer the path and velocity hodograph of any number of moving points can be drawn. Also, a complete project documentation (ASCII-format) can be automatically generated.