Animate Joint vs Animate Model

[kdeuler]

Hi. I have this simple model of two independendently rotatable disks positioned above a grounded disk. (Here's the link to the storry board: http://a360.co/24J924I  just to visualize the positioning.) My question concerns the animations options in the Model space. When I right click on a joint element (in the navigation area), I'm presented with two animation options: Animate Joint and Animate Model. My question is, what is the difference between these two options. What I'd expect is that when I select animate model, that ALL joints in the model are animated to demonstrate the joint type. In the sample case, I'd expect both disks to spin. What actually happens is that only the disk for the selected joint spins, as if I selected Animate Joint.

Am I not understanding the Animate Model option correctly?  Note that I have in the past made test models where more than one joint was exercised at once with the Animate Model option. But that was a one-off that I can't seem to repeat.

Thanks!

[jeff_strater]

Your understanding of the difference between these tools is almost correct.  Animate Model starts from the joint you select, and animates everything in the model that depends on this joint, or on components involved in this joint.

In your example, the two joints are unrelated.  Here is Rev1:

And here is Rev2:

If, for instance, Rev2 was between Component2 and Component3, then you would see the difference.  I'll post a screencast in a minute.

Jeff

[jeff_strater]

Here is the promised screencast:

[kdeuler]

Thanks Jeff. I've got it now!