Change Thread Size from Excel 1

[PowderBlazer]

I have a part with a single threaded hole in it. The threaded hole is created using the hole command. In expressions I create 2 user inputs (I_THREAD_DIAMETER & I_THREAD FORM). When creating a threaded hole the "hole standard" and "thread size" are both drop downs, therefore in expressions they are seen as strings. Anyway, I extract expressions to the spreadsheet. I want the user to be able to change the user inputs (I_...) and have that drive the p values (except the p98 parameters have a value of =EXPRVAL(p98")) for the threaded hole. Is this possible seeing the threads are a drop down list of values, that are created as strings? I am able to do this using a symbolic thread, but would rather complete as detailed above.

Thanks in advance.
PB

 

[JohnRBaker]

When you create a 'Threaded Hole' using the Hole function, one of the expressions created will be a 'string' expression titled 'Thread Size'. This is actually the expression that is controlling the size of the hole and all of the other expressions which define the threaded hole feature. To see what I mean, create a simple part, say a block, and add an "M20 x 1.5" threaded hole feature. Now open the Expression dialog and edit the string value of the 'Thread Size' expression to be "M25 x 1.5" and hit OK and you will see that the hole has been edited (it's larger) and if you look at the other expressions you will see that they've all updated to what would be needed to define an "M25 x 1.5" threaded hole. Now your only limitation is that the 'thread size' that you enter MUST match a size record in the threaded hole data file. In other words, you can only edit a 'Threaded Hole' into different sized 'Threaded Hole' that you could have created in the first place. You can even change from a 'Fine' to a 'Coarse' thread, just that you'll have to make sure that you edit both the 'Thread Size' and the 'Thread Standard' expressions at the same time. And while we're on the topic the the 'Thread Standard', you can even change a Metric hole into one based on Imperial units. For example, take the test case I described above. If you were to edit the 'Thread Size' to say "3/4-10" and the 'Thread Standard' to 'Inch UNC' and hit OK, you'd now have an Imperial unit thread and all of the thread-specific expressions will have updated, not only in value, but also from 'mm' to 'in'.

Now how you might be able to drive this from a spreadsheet, you'll have to work that out, but at least you now KNOW exact which expression is actually controlling the size of the Threaded Hole.

John R. Baker, P.E.
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