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using an assembly variable in a part

Question asked by Jim Steinmeyer on Aug 7, 2017
Latest reply on Aug 7, 2017 by Dan Pihlaja

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This should be easy but is eluding me.

I have a new assembly basically from the ground up so I decided to attempt to learn the top down assembly method with skeleton parts. I have created numerious planes and a couple of starting sketches and global variables. Now I would like to start creating individual parts linking them to the global variables. I did the "insert new part" within the assembly and with the part active in the assembly I am attempting to link part dimensions to the assembly global variables. When I place the dimension and add = to link the dimension to the variables the only global variables that come up are the part variables. Apparently I am not searching for the correct terms as I can't find it in the forum, so how do I get the assembly variables available for use in the parts?

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John Stoltzfus Aug 7, 2017 12:36 PM
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Try this one Jim Steinmeyer

https://forum.solidworks.com/message/708932#comment-708932

ps: Keep in mind that it can be easier to search from here

Forum SEARCH RETURNS - Over 189,000 Search Returns - 120 Categories - Excel (6/10/2020) Updated "API - Appearances & Bug" Searches
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- Jim Steinmeyer @ John Stoltzfus on Aug 7, 2017 2:43 PM
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  John Stoltzfus,
  I looked in the spreadsheet first and was using the wrong terms.
  I then after your post have reread through the linked posts. I can see where driving things off the master sketch would be of a benefit. With this assembly I am attempting to design an auger system to fit around one of our feeders. Depending on the product used the diameter of the auger may change and so I am attempting to link several parts in several subassemblies to a top level variable that would drive all of the parts. As the parts are on several different planes, and with several different shapes I was hoping to build off global variables but that might be a mistake.
  In the following screen shot I have an older auger system that will be replaced laid out roughly how the new one will go. I have the assembly level sketch showing. The first part I was attempting to drive was the square flange shown at the bottom. It will be placed in 4 different places in 3 different subassemblies, two of those just to the upper left of the flange. The inside dimension will be driven by the tube diameter and the best I was able to do using the indicated thread was to select the diameter from the visible sketch and then have that diameter driven by a global variable. I will proceed with that and see how things go. There will actually also be an auger attached to the top that is directed towards the rear but is able to pivot about the top flange.
  Thank you
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  - John Stoltzfus @ Jim Steinmeyer on Aug 7, 2017 2:59 PM
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    One of the things to keep in mind Jim Steinmeyer - first within any learning curve there will be issues, right... but don't let that deter you from your end goal..
    
    One thing I do want to share using a sketch part to drive an assembly and parts within the assembly, be extremely careful of how many configurations you plug into the main assembly. I had a simple cabinet model here that I thought I might have to trash, I had 6 different configurations and this was a simple design, maybe a few odd parts.. These 6 configurations slowed the drawing down to a crawl, there were approx 45 sheets in the drawing, which should not have been the issue, so what I did is saved the assembly 6 times by doing a Save As Copy and then I opened everyone up and deleted all the configurations except the one that was needed, that helped a little bit, but then I had to go back and delete all the display states but one, what a difference, before it would take a few minutes to go page to page going from configuration to configuration, but when I got to the part tabs, it was quick. This morning I opened the same file and what a difference, no hesitation at all, the drawings were quick...
    
    So watch the amounts of Configuration and Display States....
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    - Jim Steinmeyer @ John Stoltzfus on Aug 7, 2017 3:05 PM
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      Will do. Have not been successful with display states to this point so that will not be a problem.
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Dennis Dohogne Aug 7, 2017 12:55 PM
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I'm just speculating here, but would it work if you are editing the part in the context of the assembly where the global variables reside? Would they be visible to your part then?
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- Jim Steinmeyer @ Dennis Dohogne on Aug 7, 2017 2:19 PM
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  Dennis,
  No, that is how I thought it would work and that is why I first created the part as a virtual part then attempted to edit it while still in the assembly.
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Dan Pihlaja Aug 7, 2017 3:28 PM
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Check this out:
http://www.javelin-tech.com/blog/2016/10/solidworks-configured-assembly-dimensions/
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using an assembly variable in a part

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