I am having some problems with designing a parametric design of a conveyor. I made a simple part with a width, lengt and an angle. And I want to make different configurations for the width and the angle but not the length. I want to be able to change the length manually. And I know that it's possible to change this length in the assembly. But sometimes I need this part more than once with different lengths.
Is there a way to achieve this?
Would it be possible to attach your file?
I don't know if it's possible to attach the part on the forum, otherwise I have to make a transfer link.
Click on "Use Advanced Editor" while you're writing the post. There's a button to attach files.
If you want the part more than once with different geometry, each different geometry has to be a configuration or a different file.
Giel Boonen wrote:
I am having some problems with designing a parametric design of a conveyor. I made a simple part with a width, lengt and an angle. And I want to make different configurations for the width and the angle but not the length. I want to be able to change the length manually. And I know that it's possible to change this length in the assembly. But sometimes I need this part more than once with different lengths.
Is there a way to achieve this?
Can you please elaborate on this statement (especially the part about not wanting to use configurations for different lengths)? Since you said you want to use the Part in multiple Assemblies with different lengths I don't see any way to avoid having Length controlled by configurations.
Create a Global Variable and link it to length. Now you can control length both manually and independently from configurations.
Vladimir Urazhdin wrote:
Create a Global Variable and link it to length. Now you can control length both manually and independently from configurations.
It should be noted that this does not allow you to have one configuration with two different lengths at the same time. It's just fundamentally not possible in SolidWorks. You have to make a different configuration for each length.
It's possible if make a copy of second (w/different length) part with a new name.
Or, create two virtual parts - SW will assign new names automatically.
Where do I change to 'use advanced editor'. I think that when I upload the part, it will be clear.
Giel Boonen wrote:
Where do I change to 'use advanced editor'. I think that when I upload the part, it will be clear.
Hey Richard Doyle, is there any way to just make the advanced editor the default? I don't think the basic editor (or whatever it's called) has any advantages at all, and I can't count the number of posts where we have to say "Click Use advanced editor to post a file".
Even worse, if you write a post from your notification inbox, the "Use advanced editor" link doesn't even appear. Extra confusationalness.
As said, my example file. I already worked something out in DriveWorks but then the programma creates new files, everytime I use a different length or width
Giel,
Did you see the comments above from me and Josh Brady? You can't have multiple lengths of a single Part without having a separate configuration for each. You can insert the Part into an Assembly and edit it there to the required length, but if length isn't a configuration specific variable then that edit will affect all instances of the Part. If you open a previous Assembly where the Part was used then the length will have been changed there also. If you want to avoid this then you'll need a separate configuration for each length, or separate Parts for each Assembly.
Glenn
But I was thinking, Is it possible to make an Numberbox where I can insert the value of the length and still keep al the configurations, then I only have different files for different lenghts
Giel Boonen wrote:
But I was thinking, Is it possible to make an Numberbox where I can insert the value of the length and still keep al the configurations, then I only have different files for different lenghts
You can have a different file for each Length, but it will require saving the file to a different name each time. I believe the closest you'll get to the "Numberbox" would be to have the Length controlled by a global variable, as Vladimir Urazhdin suggested.
Look into Configuration publisher in case you want to create configurations in the same model OR DriveWorksXpress (free add-in for automation) in case you want separate file every time you've different values.