Managing parts varying only in dimension 3

[wishywashy12]

Hi

Firstly, sorry if this has been answered before, but I have spent the last half hour searching for answers to my problems. I have found solutions to most of them except for this:

Suppose I want 3 different sizes of a part, let's say a nail. Each one is the same shape, just difference size. The head diameter is proportional to the length of the nail.

Must I create one of the sizes and then make copies just to make the different sizes?

Apart from being tedious initial work, especially if there were many of these parts, it would be require more menial work if the shape was to be changed, to change the ratio between head size and nail length for example.

Perhaps there is a way to reference dimensions of features/sketches in another part? Or have the one part that can be expanded and shrunk in an assembly?

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[wishywashy12]

One other thing, I wouldn't mind a solution using the SW API but would rather find out if there is a simpler method first.

 

[ototot]

What about configurations?

 

[StefanHamminga]

Better yet do the following tutorial:

Help -> SolidWorks Tutorials -> Design Tables


Stefan Hamminga
EngIT Solutions
CSWP/Mechanical designer

 

[JMirisola]

Design tables, configurations, equations...any/all will accomplish your goals. You can find info on all of them in the help files.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
CAD Administrator
SW '07 SP2.0, Dell M90, Intel 2 Duo Core, 2GB RAM, nVidia 2500M

http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog

 

[wishywashy12]

Sorry, I should have known better, a deserved "Thanks" nonetheless. It was one of the 10 or so tutorials I had left to do or at least look at but when I looked over the names, "design tables" just didn't ring any bells (I am new to CAD so maybe that is why).

 

[wishywashy12]

Just to clarify, what I said can go for everyone (even JMirisola whose post I didn't see until after I posted). I have given all of you a "thanks". After I posted the question initially, I found out I was on the right track when I mentioned "referencing dimensions in another part" and soon got equations working as I wanted but design tables seem to be the way to go.

Thanks again, much appreciated