Integration of modeling in solidworks and matlab/simulink

environments

Abstract

In the paper, the authors present construction stages of simulation models worked

out using SolidWorks and Matlab/Simulink environments. As examples of simulation

models, a laboratory truck crane and a forest crane have been shown. These models

allow

for

visualization

of

movements,

tracking

of

the

trajectory,

velocity

and

acceleration of any point of the system.

1. Introduction

Current

technological

development

has

caused

an

increase

in

customers

’

requirements

as

for

designed

products.

Different

conditions

and

competition

on

the

market mean that new products must be characterized by high quality and functionality.

This situation forces engineers to design machines which are characterized by great

flexibility and a variety of applications. However, the construction of prototypes of all

kinds of devices, which are subjected to experimental research, is impossible because

of both economy and time. Therefore, modeling problem [1, 2] is useful and it plays a

fundamental

role

in

the

design

stage

of

a

new

structure

as

well

as

during

the

modification

of

an

existing

construction.

The

development

of

software

used

to

computer- aided design causes that the geometrical models of objects not only can be

built, but also one can perform kinematic, dynamic, and strength analysis on the basis

of these models in the professional CAD system. However, it is complicated or even

impossible to add the control in these applications. Therefore, very often modeling of

control

systems

is

performed

in

Matlab

environment

with

Simulink

module

[3-6].

Other alternative, but rarely used method of visualization and control of movements of

the

working

machines

[7,

8],

may

be

the

Python

programming

language

with

appropriate libraries [9]. However, in this case, the preparation of simulation models is

much more laborious and requires programming skills in Python. Matlab is intended to

solve

complex

mathematical

problems

and

generate

a

graphical

visualization

of

the