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Relation defined out of context

Question asked by Scott Leacox on Apr 27, 2018
Latest reply on Apr 30, 2018 by Kevin Chandler

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I am seeing an error that states "Relation defined out of context" within an assembly driven sheet metal part.

My goal is to take the offset of a plane in the assembly, and use that distance as a variable inside a part.

I created the link this way:

1. Create global variable in assembly from dimension that positions plane

2. Create global variable inside the part = to the variable inside the assembly.

When the assembly is open or if I am editing the part inside the context of the assembly, no errors.

But of the part is open on it's own, that's when I see the error.

Down the road, the part will be it's own draft. I need the draft to update from changes to the plane in the assembly. I assume the error would prevent me from doing that.

Is there a solution to this? My current work around would be to add a sketch inside the part that measures the relative position of two assembly planes and use that instead of the link from the assembly global variable.

The reason I don't like the work around is I have many parts in the same boat for the one assembly. To me it makes more sense to have one assembly global variable the drives many parts rather than add a new raw sketch and dimension inside many parts.

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Kevin Chandler Apr 27, 2018 5:20 PM
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Hello,
1. Create a gv in the assembly and offset your plane to it:
2. Export your GV to an equations file (you don't have to call it "equations.txt") and when asked what to export uncheck but the gv:
3. In your part, import this equations file and the gv will come greyed out:
4. Point your part's feature dim to the gv:
Any file can reference the equations file you created, so repeat the above for each part as needed from step #3.
Reminder: The equations file is included with a pack and go.
Before you export, enter some explanation in the comment column of the assembly's gv and this text will be written to the equations file so there will be some reference text for others to see (thank you to Rob Edwards for this idea).

Cheers,

Kevin
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Scott Leacox Apr 27, 2018 5:32 PM
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Thank you kevin.

I think the main point you are making is this:
If I create a global variable in the assembly that is driven from a plane position, this will create the out of context error when that variable is used to drive a part;s variable.

In contrast:
If I create a global variable in the assembly that drives the plane position, then I will no longer have an out of context error when that variable is used to drive a part's variable.

What I lose if I work that way is the ability to edit the planes position using the plane offset dimension on the screen. I would then need to open & edit equations to edit the planes position.

I would prefer to be able to edit the planes position inside the graphic area of the assembly. So now I'm wondering if my suspicion in correct that the error will cause a problem down the line. Is this the case, or may I ignore the error and move on?

I could have the best of both worlds, but it would cost me adding a sketch inside each part measuring the planes position inside each part.
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- Scott Leacox @ Scott Leacox on Apr 27, 2018 5:37 PM
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- Kevin Chandler @ Scott Leacox on Apr 30, 2018 8:24 AM
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  S. Leacox wrote:
  
  Thank you kevin.
  
  I think the main point you are making is this:
  If I create a global variable in the assembly that is driven from a plane position, this will create the out of context error when that variable is used to drive a part;s variable.
  
  In contrast:
  If I create a global variable in the assembly that drives the plane position, then I will no longer have an out of context error when that variable is used to drive a part's variable.
  
  What I lose if I work that way is the ability to edit the planes position using the plane offset dimension on the screen. I would then need to open & edit equations to edit the planes position.
  
  I would prefer to be able to edit the planes position inside the graphic area of the assembly. So now I'm wondering if my suspicion in correct that the error will cause a problem down the line. Is this the case, or may I ignore the error and move on?
  
  I could have the best of both worlds, but it would cost me adding a sketch inside each part measuring the planes position inside each part.
  Hello,
  
  Try this:
  Add a master sketch at the top of your assembly tree.
  In this sketch, draw a construction line and dimension it to the amount of plane offset.
  Set the plane offset to the line's length
  Set the global variable to the line length.
  Export the gv.
  Edit the master sketch when you want to alter the plane offset.
  Add other bits into the sketch if there are other items that need this same access control.
  
  Cheers,
  
  Kevin
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  - Scott Leacox @ Kevin Chandler on Apr 30, 2018 9:26 AM
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    I understand what you are saying. But that adds yet another layer to things. I'm using planes to control sketches. If I did that, I would have sketches that control planes that in turn control sketches.
    
    The reason I work that way is so that I force many pieces of sheet metal to be driven from the same assembly plane. And so that the pieces of sheet metal may be removed from the assembly and replaces with minimum interaction with the other sheet metal pieces. Now some times the "minimum" is everything about the part, but those cases can't be avoided.
    
    The way I look at it is: Planes are what's between the coordinate system and sketches. Sketches live on planes. Planes live in a coordinate system. A coordinate system coordinates parts and assemblies.
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- Kevin Chandler @ Scott Leacox on Apr 30, 2018 9:44 AM
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  S. Leacox wrote:
  
  Thank you kevin.
  
  I think the main point you are making is this:
  If I create a global variable in the assembly that is driven from a plane position, this will create the out of context error when that variable is used to drive a part;s variable.
  
  In contrast:
  If I create a global variable in the assembly that drives the plane position, then I will no longer have an out of context error when that variable is used to drive a part's variable.
  
  What I lose if I work that way is the ability to edit the planes position using the plane offset dimension on the screen. I would then need to open & edit equations to edit the planes position.
  
  I would prefer to be able to edit the planes position inside the graphic area of the assembly. So now I'm wondering if my suspicion in correct that the error will cause a problem down the line. Is this the case, or may I ignore the error and move on?
  
  I could have the best of both worlds, but it would cost me adding a sketch inside each part measuring the planes position inside each part.
  Hello,
  
  I forgot to mention that I have the equations dialog mapped to Ctrl+E so, for me, it's readily available.
  And being a gv in this situation, it's easily found since it's at the top of the dialog.
  
  Cheers,
  
  Kevin
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