Connectors allow you to model mechanical relationships between two points in an assembly. A connector attaches to two points, referred to as connector points, or to one connector point and ground. The connection can be simple, such as a link, or the connection can impose more complicated constraints, such as constant velocity joints. You define the type of connection by referring to a connector property. In turn, a connector property can include a connector behavior, such as spring-like elasticity behavior. For more information, see “Connectors: overview,” Section 17.1.1 of the ABAQUS Analysis User's Manual.

For example, Figure 21–5 illustrates the crank mechanism that is used in the example problem “Crank mechanism,” Section 4.1.2 of the ABAQUS Example Problems Manual.

The model transmits a rotational motion through two universal joints and then converts the rotation into translational motion of two slides. An ABAQUS Scripting Interface script that reproduces the crank mechanism model using ABAQUS/CAE is provided with this example. The crank mechanism is modeled using nine part instances attached to each other through eight connectors.