driving variables instead of driven

[CWSTony]

bit of background, converted from v17 to st5 so all part files are 'ordered'. i have a parent profile saved at 1" long and multiple children at different lengths with symmetric processing at the end and middle of profile. i am trying to build an adjustable assembly with the children where i can control the length and width. i have made the parent part "adjustable" and the variable is driving in the table at this point as well as the children at longer lengths.
the issue comes when i build the basic 4 sided assmebly. all the part length variables in the table turn gray and now driven. i want to be able to control the assembly size without having to back to the parent file and changing the lengths of the child parts and updating. i can do that now without making all the parts 'adjustable'. i have other subassemblies that i want to build and make them adjustable and then driven by the master assembly.

sorry for the long post.

thanks in advance for any help.

Tony E
Custom Window Systems, Inc

 

[beachcomber]

I think you need to link the part's adjustable variable to a measurement variable in the assembly.

bc.
Core i5-3570 @3.4GHz , 8GB RAM
Quadro FX4600. W7 Pro 64-bit.

 

[CWSTony]

beachcomber

i did that. i was able to set the link in the variable table for the length while in the part file by setting it to adjustable. in assembly, the part comes in as adjustable, in the peer variable the part length is changed to grey and not driving.

thanks for the help.
Tony

 

[beachcomber]

The peer variable will show the length variable in the PART file.
When you define the PART as adjustable, that variable is then driven by a variable in the ASSEMBLY.
Hence in the part file it is now driven, not driving.

If you consider 2 parallel plates A & B whose distance apart can vary, then you would create a variable in the assembly to define that distance - let's call it AB.
Now you want another plate C to fit between them - the length (lets call it L) of that plate has to vary according to the distance between - so you make L DRIVEN by AB.
If you change AB, then L will change.

bc.
Core i5-3570 @3.4GHz , 8GB RAM
Quadro FX4600. W7 Pro 64-bit.

 

[CWSTony]

i built all new parts in synchronous form and set the peers vars and built an assembly and it works. its just that all my current parts are in ordered form and SE just doesn't seem to like linking the part length of children that share the same parent file.
i will have to try transitioning to synchronous with the children and see it will work.

i have hundreds of parent/child extrusions that are ordered at the moment. i have to see what is going to happen when they are updated.

thanks for the help
tony

 

[Kenny_G]

These Parent/Child parts you refer to are not Family of Parts are they?

Ken G.

http://grundey.blogspot.com

Have you checked out the Solid Edge Community site?

http://community.plm.automation.siemens.com/t5/Solid-Edge/ct-p/solid-edge