Linking Dimensions in Sketches

[FlyingGrimReaper]

Hey guys I have been working on a nose cone and I found these nice formulas for nose cone designs in Wikipedia which is a real convenience for quick modeling.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nose_cone_design

Now, the usual way I would design it would be to use Excel to get general values and sketch it into SolidWorks. However, I want to make an exact model w/o having to use Excel beforehand.

There is a feature in the dimensions dropdown list for adding equations. However, I have thought of trying to link the dimensions together. (i.e. changing the height "R" I could change the x0 value listed in Wikipedia)

Is SolidWorks capable of this? Or am I just wishing it would be capable of doing this? (cough... so wishing.. cough...)

Right now, the only solution to designing anything is to put in the exact numbers into the equation. (Which leaves room for error, and sends me back to excel to verify if my numbers are correct, and wastes time.)

 

[JMirisola]

That drop down you talk about for adding equations also allows for the linking of dimensions...

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[FlyingGrimReaper]

Cool

In add/edit equation: Do I type the "d#@sketch#" ( primary value) to relate lines I am using to calculate the dimension?

 

[JMirisola]

If you double click on the line, its dimension should appear. You can then just click on the dim and it'll auto-populate the equation box.
If you want to link dimensions, double click on one and select link. When prompted, name said link. Double click on the other dim you want to link to the first, select link and then select the aforementioned name.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Design Manager/Senior Designer
M9 Defense
My Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

http://help.solidworks.com/2010/Eng...ldworks/detailing/hidd_dynparam_tools_dlg.htm

http://help.solidworks.com/2010/Eng...gacyhelp/sldworks/Parts/HIDD_SHARED_PARAM.htm

 

[Gupta65]

Check these two similar posts:

Linking Dimensions (values) – 1

Linking Dimensions (values) – 2





Deepak Gupta
SW 2009 SP4.1 & 2007 SP5.0
MathCAD 14.0
Boxer's Blog

 

[FlyingGrimReaper]

I appreciate the help guys, I didn't realize SolidWorks could actually let you click the dims to use them as references in linking to an equations, this helps alot with some of the more complicated designs I have.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Before creating the equations, it is useful to rename the dimensions to be used, to something logical (Boss OD, Shaft ID, Cut Length, etc). It makes for easier troubleshooting and editing.

 

[Updraft]

Adding to CBL's recommendation to rename the dimensions before using elsewhere, it is a good habit to not use spaces in the dimension names. In most instances it will not cause a problem, but I remember seeing it documented as a problem when those labels are used in a SWX generated Excel spreadsheet, either a BOM or a Design Table. I have been using dashes or underscores for separators ever since getting burned with that problem (and spending a long time trying to track it down).

- - -Updraft