Displaying the Center of Gravity of Parts/Assemblies

Displaying the Center of Gravity of Parts/Assemblies

This section explains how to display the center of gravity (COG) of parts or assemblies in a 3D scene.
There are two methods to check the COG:

1. Using [COG Display] to show the center of gravity of a part/assembly.
This method displays a COG marker in the 3D scene and also shows its coordinates.
Info
COG = Center of Gravity
Notes
The coordinates of the COG are displayed relative to the Anchor of the part/assembly.
By changing the anchor location, you can display coordinates relative to any desired reference position.
2. Using [Tools] tab → [Analysis] to check the center of gravity.
This method allows you to confirm COG coordinates, but no COG marker is displayed in the 3D scene.

Procedure:

1. Enabling [COG Display]

[1] Click [Add-in Applications] in the [Add-ins] tab.


[2] In the Applications/Add-ins dialog, check [COG Display] to enable it, and click OK.


[3] The Annotations tab will now display [COG Display].
If no part/assembly is selected, it will appear grayed out and cannot be clicked.


2. Displaying the Center of Gravity

[1] Select the part or assembly for which you want to display the COG.

[2] With the part/assembly selected, click [Add COG].


[3] The COG marker (see red arrow in figure) will be displayed.


Notes
If multiple parts/assemblies are selected and Add COG is applied, each selected item will display its own COG.
To display the COG of multiple parts/assemblies as a whole, group them into a single assembly first.

3. Displaying COG Coordinates

[1] After adding a COG, click [Show COG Details...].


[2] Coordinates will be displayed next to the COG marker.


Notes
Clicking Show COG Details again toggles the coordinates off.

4. Hiding the Center of Gravity

[1] Select the part/assembly with a displayed COG marker.
Click Hide COG.


[2] The COG marker and coordinates will no longer be shown.


5. Displaying the Center of Gravity in CAXA Draft (IronCAD Draft)

The COG marker added in 3D cannot be directly projected into CAXA Draft.
As a workaround:
Place a small sphere (from the Start catalog → Sphere).
Move it to the displayed COG position using TriBall.
Project the sphere in CAXA Draft to represent the COG.

6. Checking COG Using [Analysis]

[1] Select the part/assembly to check.
NotesMultiple selection is not supported.
To check the overall COG of multiple items, group them into a single assembly.

[2] With the item selected, click [Analysis] in the [Tools] tab.


[3] [Analysis] dialog is displayed.


[4] On the Shape Body tab, click Auto Calculate.
The Physical Properties section will display Volume, Mass, and Center of Gravity.
Click OK to close the dialog.


7. Coordinates in [Analysis]

The displayed COG coordinates depend on the selected coordinate system in the Analysis dialog:
  1. World Coordinate System.
    Coordinates are displayed relative to the global origin (0,0,0) of the 3D scene.

  1. Local Coordinates of Selected Shape
    Coordinates are displayed relative to the Anchor of the selected part/assembly (0,0,0).

Notes
By changing the anchor position, you can display coordinates relative to any desired reference.
Please refer to the link below for how to move the anchor.

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