Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
(OP)
I am developing a configurable body of a steel wagon body that my company manufactures. It is similar to a big metal tub with a door on the back.
When I increase the length of the body, there is a rail alongside the body which increases to suit. The rail has slots cut into it in a linear pattern spaced at 300mm; the slots are in place so that we can easily locate a side panel.
The slots are spaced 150mm from either end of the rail. Although this value is not imperative.
When I increase the length of the body, and therefore the length of the rail, I want the instances in the pattern to increase to suit the new length.
Anyone have any reccomendation on how to do this?
I can not simply increase the space between the slots and keep the same number of instances, as this was my thought by using a sketch driven pattern.
When I increase the length of the body, there is a rail alongside the body which increases to suit. The rail has slots cut into it in a linear pattern spaced at 300mm; the slots are in place so that we can easily locate a side panel.
The slots are spaced 150mm from either end of the rail. Although this value is not imperative.
When I increase the length of the body, and therefore the length of the rail, I want the instances in the pattern to increase to suit the new length.
Anyone have any reccomendation on how to do this?
I can not simply increase the space between the slots and keep the same number of instances, as this was my thought by using a sketch driven pattern.






RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
-Dustin
Professional Engineer
Certified SolidWorks Professional
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
Cole M
CSWP, CSWST, CSWI, CPDM
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RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
length between end slots varies;
slot pattern at 300mm;
therefore enter equation where:
# of slots (pattern instances) = length between end slots (a driven dimension you must enter) divided by your 300mm slot pattern distance.
The downside to this method is that you may not end up with even slot spacing at last position.
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
#slots = round((rail length – 2 * 150)) / 300 + 1
distance from end = (rail length – 300 * (#slots – 1)) / 2
If you are using a design table (recommended), the #slots parameter and distance from end dimension can be added to the table and the equations entered into Excel. If you are not using a design table, you could have these as regular equations.
Eric
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
How can I control the number of slot instances with the equation?
The equations are fairly simple, but I don't know how to use the result of the equation as the number of slots. I have tried simply typing the equation into the linear pattern instances option but it just comes up with an error saying:
"Please enter a number between 0 and 1000"
I might be a doofus, and this might be a very simple thing to do...that's usually the problem :P
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
The first is with an equation. Go to tools -> Equations, click on add. This will bring up a little equation entering window. The trick is figuring out the name of the variables that you wish to include in the equation. With the add equation box up, click on the pattern feature to get its dimensions to show, and then click on the instance number. This should put that dimension / variable into the equation. You then just repeat the process for the other dimensions in your equation.
The second is through configurations and a design table. Make two configurations of your part, and have all of the dimensions that you wish to control different in the two configurations. Then use Insert -> Design Table to create an Excel spreadsheet which controls the dimensions. Let it auto create the design table. You can then enter the equations into the appropriate cell of the design table.
Eric
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
I think the original question was - can you, and if so how do you, use the equation you've created to control the number of instances into the linear pattern property manager?
I know you can accomplish this with a fill pattern, and I understand that a design table can also be used (though I've been to lazy to go down that road thus far), but the simple and obvious solution seems to be to create a formula and use it in the property manager. Alas this seems to be impossible.
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
-handleman, CSWP (The new, easy test)
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match
Jeff Mirisola, CSWP, Certified DriveWorks AE
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
RE: Increasing length of part, want pattern instances to match