Getting the right dimension 1

[PatCouture]

HI

Let's say I have a part of 200" with a cutout that I want to pattern approximately at each 24" (plus/minus 4"). I constrained my pattern at the middle plane of my part so that the first cutout and the last cutout are at the same distance (6") from the end. Then I create a formulas to control the length of the pattern that goes like this: [Length (200") - [2 * end distance(6")]]/ 24" = 7.833 by default solid edge will round up this to 8 for the pattern.

At this point everything is good, but if I want to get the exact distance between my cutouts, I figure that I could take the same formula that gives the length of the pattern of [Length (200") - [2 * end distance(6")]]= 188" and divide it by the number of cutouts which is 8. But I can't get this exact number anywhere! all I have is 7.833 that won't give the exact distance that I need.

All of this may seem complicated but it's a simple formula for me to build my parts in a way that I will be able to change it easily.

If anyone has an idea other than creating a sketch to measure the distance. It would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance

Patrick

 

[fwc]

Pat

[Length (200") - [2 * end distance(6")]]/ 24" = 7.833 by default solid edge will round up this to 8 for the pattern.

The result that you get from above is not the quantity of cutouts but quantity of distance between cutouts.

Please check the distance after creating the pattern with 8 numbers of occurences, you'll notice that the distance is 26.86 i.e 188/7.
If you create the pattern with 9 numbers of occurences, the distance is 23.5 i.e 188/8.

Regards

 

[PatCouture]

Thank you FWC but it's really not my point, you are right about this but that doesn't help me at all. What I need is the round up of 7.833 to be 8 so that I can have the value of 23.5 in a variable somewhere. And from what I have seen unless I create a custom variable where I enter the round up I can't get anything except the 7.833.

I would need a tool like excel to round up the value to a simple number.

Thanks

Patrick

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi,

The tool is there in the variable table. It's called INT() you can type =INT(the variable that you want to round) in the formula cell. (NB: you can also use the 'fx' button)

HTH

Fred

 

[PatCouture]

Thanks a lot fred.

But is it correct to say that this only takes the number down? for example 7.833 will become 7!

From what I've seen SE, for the pattern, take the number to the nearest integer down or up! for example 7.21 becomes 7 and 7.833 becomes 8!

Patrick

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi,

You're right. it's only removing the decimals.

There's a command missing. ask UGS for an enhancement request.

The solution to your problem is then to link the variable table to excel using copy link in SE and paste in Excel. Then, there is a rounding up/down command in Excel. Then you can copy the result cell (Tip: rename the cell to avoid pb if your cells move in Excel) and paste link in the SE variable table.

NB: select (LMB) the gray square on the left of the variable line and RMB to get the menu with copy/paste link.

Fred

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi,

I might have spoken too fast. I'm not sure excel will update properly because it's meant to drive SE (not the opposite).

I think the ER should definitely be posted. Let us know.

Fred

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi,

I found a work-around. Try this in your variable table :

number 10.6
integernumber 10 =INT( number )
check 1 =( number - integernumber >0.5)*-1
rounded_number 11 = integernumber + check

HTH,

Fred

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi again,

Coming back to the root of your problem, I'm guessing that you need to do this calculation to create a fixed pattern of 8 cutouts with a spacing of 23.5.

If you want a much simpler technique to do the same thing, try this :

- create a sketch first with a centered fit rectangular pattern, for the quantity enter 8 (or 7.833 with the formula you were mentionning).
- then create the cutout and position it using the sketch. (This way you won't have to worry about calculating the spacing)

Fred

 

[PatCouture]

Hi fred

Your help is greatly appreciated! In fact my pattern is already built with a sketch exactly as you just described. The reason why I need the dimension between the cutouts is to be able to put a different cutout in between the first series of cutouts, so if I want to put the second cutout in the middle of the others I need the exact distance.

Thank you

Patrick

 

[fwc]

Pat,

You may want to try this out,
-INT(-7.833)

Fred,

I might have spoken too fast. I'm not sure excel will update properly because it's meant to drive SE (not the opposite).

It's possible for SE to drive Excel,

Check this thread,
thread562-99254

Regards
fwc

 

[PatCouture]

Thank you fwc

This works but you have to be sure that you need to round up. If the number changes to lets say 7.423 the formula will still put it at 8. But SE in the pattern will use 7. So I think that the work around offered by fred is better suited to my need.

Patrick

 

[fwc]

Patrick

I've tried what you've said by using 7.423 (in fact I've tried from 7.1 to 8.0) and the pattern occurrence is still 8.


Regards
fwc

 

[PatCouture]

fwc

Have you made a fit pattern as I described at the beginning in my example? I don't know about how SE reacts when you enter decimals in the number of occurences but if you use formulas for it, SE rounds up (or down).

because I got a pattern of 8 occurences with desired center distance of approximately 24 inches and if I change the desired center distance to approximately 36 inches I get 5 occurences. Then 188" / 36 = 5.22 That's how I assumed that SE round up (or down) to the nearest number.

Patrick

 

[fredericmenage]

Hi,

Thanks fwc, I didn't know the SE to EXCEL trick. I tried it and it works, you just have to be careful to open the SE file first and not use the revision manager it seems.

Otherwise, SE rounds a pattern quantity up if the decimal is .5 or above. Otherwise it rounds it down.

Fred

 

[fwc]

Since this function (INT) rounds a number down to nearest integer and if the number (X) is -7.00>X=>-8.00 shouldn't it be -8.00? (Since, -8.00 < -7.00)

Hence, with the formula [blue]INT(-7.423)[/blue], it will be -8.000 and by changing the formula to [blue]-INT(-7.423)[/blue], the result will be 8.000.

Patrick,
This is what I've done;

Name Value Formula
Length 200
Space 24
EndSpace 6
Occurrence 8 -INT(-( Length -2* EndSpace )/ Space )

When I change [blue]Space[/blue] to 36, [blue]Occurrence[/blue] will change to 6 and the pattern occurrence is also 6.


fwc

 

[PatCouture]

fwc

I won't argue with you about if the formulas works or not, but I think that SE makes a difference for a variable created manually or a variable SE created for it's own pattern.

Just for the record, can you try it with a real pattern so that the occurence variables is the one directly controling the pattern. Because in my sheet metal part, the pattern behave exactly as I described it in the thread above.

Patrick

 

[fwc]

Patrick

FYI I'm actually doing what you've said.
BTW the [blue]Occurrence[/blue] is actually controlling the pattern.
I got 8 and 6 cutouts for 24 and 36 [blue]Space[/blue] respectively.


fwc

 

[PatCouture]

Thanks fwc

I may be misunderstanding something or I'm doing something differently than you that I don't know of.

Thank you for your help

Patrick