Move/Copy body controlled by a design Table 1

[adicm]

Hi. I want to know if it is possible to control a move/Copy Feature in a part with a Design Table. I mean, I know I can supress the feature, but I want to control the distance in, said X, only with one move/copy feature and values in the design table, instead add a lot of features and supress and unsupress them.

Thanks for your help.

 

[crjones]

You did not really say what type of feature your working with but I have had luck by controlling some features with the sketch plane with the design table. I create a plane at a distance, then control the distance (d1@planeX). So then feature the moves with plane.

 

[adicm]

Right.... Well, I'l try to explain myself better. I have a Comercial part that originally was an assembly. I don't Like to have a full comercial part in the form of an assembly, because I wrote a small macro that Put the Item number to comercial parts automatically, but It only works well when the comercial Part is only one part. The problem is that this part (well, said a SMC linear actuator) should take many positions, depending of the configuration. So I have the rod and the body in one Multybody part, and I just add a insert/Feature/ Move/copy body every time I need a diferent position, and I create a configuration and suppress the other Move/copy. So, after a While, I have tons of Move/Copy features in my part. What I'm tring to do is only add the value of the distance I need in a Design Table that controlls only one Move/copy. THe problem is that I can't Find the dimesion or the parameter that controls the said, DeltaX, in my part...

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I don't think you can do what you are trying to do.

In the long run, I believe you will be further ahead to keep the commercial part as an assy & use the DT to control the placement of a part or parts using the assy mates. As far as I'm aware, the multi-body function does not give you this opportunity.

Try posting your part number macro in this forum & ask the VB/API gurus how it can be made to work with assemblies.

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose

 

[brengine]

adicm,

I tried to do this with a Design Table too. I could not figure out the variable names in the Move/Copy Feature either. So what I did was make multiple Move/Copy Features, and just suppressed all of them but one for each different configurations/positions I needed.

I worked, but as stated above I find it easier to work with and would reccommend using assembly mates if at all possible. Manipulating multi-body parts is not User Friendly at all.

Ken

 

[SBaugh]

DT are only as good as the data entered that's it. You can't have a DT do anything directly (Like move/copy a body) DT will control positions, comments, Notes, & Custom properties. But it will not do anything directly. That's what API is for.

As for the dimensions used in the Move/Copy Body. As you already know you cannot add those dims to the DT. Most certainly because:

1) DT don't use Negative numbers and working in Delta you might have them
2) The dims are embedded into the feature, so they are unaccessable.

The only to do is with KenBolen's Suggestion, of multiple Unsuppression and Suppression in the DT.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[adicm]

Well, thanks everybody. Actually, the suppress, unsuppress thing is what I'm doing, but I was looking for a better solution.... (by the way, My macro does not works with assemblies because I made it in that way... is to force myself to simplify my own assemblies and the BOM's...)

 

[J-C]

If I remember correctly, you can do a point to point move with Move/Copy Bodies. So maybe create a layout sketch with points that are controlled by dimensions. Then do your move/copy bodies to those points.

Jason Capriotti
Smith & Nephew, Inc.

 

[adicm]

YES! Thank you Jason! that works great! Is Exactly what I wanted. It works Perfect! Just a Sketch, two points, a dimension and a design table. I did not know that de Move/copy could be done from point to point.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Good remembering Gildashard that makes Multibody Move/Copy much more user friendly & useful.
Have a

from (the City of) Barrie, Ontario.

I tried sniffing Coke once, but the ice cubes got stuck in my nose