Dimension driven by Parameter

[amg]

I have a made a cuboid in Solid Works. I have made a Parameters "LENGTH", "Width" and "Height" with a corresponding values of "100", "50" and "25". I have two requirements:

1. Is it possible to change the value of parameters (my various cuboids vary in Length, Width and Height; for which I want a common model)

2. Can I drive a dimension by changing the values of Parameters (i.e. Value of parameter is driving the value of dimension)

Thanks in advance.

Amish

 

[meintsi]

Create the configurations using a design table.
(Basically an Excel spreadsheet.)

Look under help to find out create the design table and how to insert the dimensions you want.



Remember...
"If you don't use your head,
your going to have to use your feet."

 

[amg]

I think... my requirement is not clearly understood..

1. As we have "PARAMETERS" in Pro/E, Is is true that in SolidWorks, we go to FILE>PROPERTIES>CUSTOM, give NAME,TYPE and VALUE & say "ADD" to create a Parameter.

2. This Parameter can be given a FIXED value or its value can be driven by a dimension. Is it true?

3. If I have given a fixed value to the Parameter, Can I cahnge the value at some later point of time?

4. Can the value of a Parameter be used to drive a dimension (if the value of Parameter is fixed and not driven by a dimension)

Amish

 

[J-C]

Custom Properties cannot drive dimensions. You can link them to dimensions to see the dimensions value but they are driven, not driving.

You can rename the dimensions to "Length" "Width" "Height" and reference those but you must change the dimensions to change their values. They can also be changed through a design table too.

What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

Jason Capriotti
Smith & Nephew, Inc.

 

[aamoroso]

I think the information you wanting to hear is:
Are there parameters in SolidWorks?
The answere is no.
Solidworks will allow many instances of a part to exist in a single model through the use of design tables, you can enter your dimensions there and change them for each configuration or not enter them and let them be the same for each configuration.

Example:
A 6" hub 1" thick with the 6 hole pattern on a 4.5" boltcircle. In the design table you can call this config "X", then create Config "Y" "Z"... and enter the dimensions to have several models in a single file with different dimensions for each config. Then create a single drawing for Config X, save it, change the config to Y save it as Y.....

If you are looking to have a driven dimension based on other dimensions there are multiple ways to do this. You can make dimensions driven, other dimensions will determine this dimensions values. You can use Equations, HT=2xlength (more to it than that but thats the idea). You can write a macro that would change a dimensions based on user input (this one is a bit more complicated). All of these can be changed at any time, none of them are permanent decisions.

If you give an example of a specific parameter and case perhaps we can better help.

 

[MElam]

If you have 2005, look up Global Variables in Help or What's New.

 

[J-C]

Only thing I don't like about global variables is they are not configurable.

Jason Capriotti
Smith & Nephew, Inc.