How to Use the Mechanics Diagram Generator
 

The Workspace

• Left panel: the object library, organized into categories (Everyday Objects, Common Mechanics, Surfaces, Measurement Tools, Arrows & Labels). Click a category name to expand or collapse it.

• Center: your canvas.

• Right panel: appears when you select an object on the canvas, showing that object's properties.

Adding Objects

• Click any item in the left panel to drop it onto the center of the canvas.

• Drag an item from the left panel directly onto the canvas to place it exactly where you want.

• You can drag the item back to the left panel to delete it, or simply hit the delete or backspace key to remove it. 

• If you're having trouble putting the object exactly where you want, try toggling "snap to grid" off for more precise placement. 

Selecting and Editing an Object

Click an object on the canvas to select it. The right panel will show its properties:

• Label: type text for the object (supports Greek letters and subscript/superscript, click the α, β, θ, etc. buttons to insert them). Check Show label to display it on the canvas.

• Color: choose a preset color or enter a hex code.

• Outline: None, Thin, or Medium, plus a Ghost preset (Teacher Tip dashed or translucent are useful for showing a starting position) and Clear.

• Position and size: X, Y, Width, Height, and Rotation fields let you set exact values.

A row of small icons above the properties panel lets you:

• Copy/paste an object's style onto another object.

• Duplicate the object. (leaves a "ghost" of the original in place so you can drag the new copy)

• Lock the object. (prevents accidental moving)

• Delete the object.

Adding Force Arrows

• Click Arrow (under Arrows & Labels) to place one. If you click it while an object is nearby, it will snap onto that object automatically.

• In the right panel, you'll see it's listed as Free-standing (not attached). Click Attach to Body to lock the arrow's tail to that object, the arrow will now move with the object whenever you drag it.

• Set the arrow's Direction (in degrees) and Length (px) using the fields, or use the Quick buttons for up/down/left/right. You can also just click and drag the arrowhead directly to set any angle and length.

• Type a Label (e.g., F_g, F_N) and check Show label to display it.

• Check Show Magnitude to add a numeric value and unit (e.g., 15 N) next to the arrow.

• If you attached the arrow to the wrong object, or want to detach it, use Re-attach or Detach in the right panel.

Multiple Force Arrows on One Object

If an object has more than one force arrow attached, use the Radiate / Tip-to-Tail toggle in the top toolbar:

• Radiate: all arrows start from the object's center (typical free-body diagram style).

• Tip-to-Tail: arrows chain together, each one starting where the previous one ends (useful for showing vector addition).

Adding a Rotational (Pivot) Arrow

• Click Pivot Arrow (under Arrows & Labels) to place a curved arrow showing rotational direction.

• Resize and rotate it using its selection handles, or the Width/Height/Rotation fields in the right panel.

• Use Flip Horizontal/Vertical in the toolbar to reverse its direction.

Adding Surfaces

• Click any item under Surfaces (Flat Surface, Cliff, Curved Ramp, Stairs, Quarter Circle Ramp) to place it, then resize/rotate/position it the same way as any other object.

Connecting Objects (Rope and Pulley)

• Place a Rope and any objects you want it connected to (e.g., a cart and a pulley).

• Select the rope. In the right panel, under Connect Endpoints, use the P1 (Start) and P2 (End) dropdowns to choose which object each end should attach to.

• Once connected, the rope will automatically stretch and follow if you move either connected object.

Measurement Tools

• Coordinate Line, Angle, Distance: click to place any of these on the canvas, then position/resize them like any other object.

• Axes (top toolbar): adds a full coordinate axis to the diagram.

• Motion Map (top toolbar): inserts a row of evenly spaced dots, useful for illustrating constant vs. changing velocity.

Text Labels

• Click Text Label (under Arrows & Labels) to add standalone text anywhere on the canvas (useful for notes that aren't tied to a specific object or arrow).

Saving Your Diagram

• Click Save in the top toolbar to save your current canvas.

• Click My Diagrams to see all your saved diagrams, save the current one, export all of them, or import a previously exported diagram file.

Exporting

Click Export in the top toolbar for these options:

• Copy Selection / Copy Full Canvas — copies the diagram as an image to your clipboard

• Export as PNG / SVG / PDF — downloads the diagram in your chosen file format

Other Useful Tools

• Undo / Redo (top-left) or Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y

• Snap to grid and Snap to tick marks - toggle these on/off to control how precisely objects align when you drag them

• Grid - toggle the visible grid and adjust its spacing

• Bring Forward / Send Back - change which object is on top when two overlap

• Flip Horizontal / Flip Vertical - mirror a selected object

• Clear - removes everything from the canvas

• Reset view (home icon) - resets your zoom/pan back to the default view

• Keyboard shortcuts (keyboard icon) — opens a full list of shortcuts for selecting, editing, and nudging objects