Dear community,
how can I create multiple parallel planes at once, that have different distances between them? Quantity of levels and their distances should be controlled parametrically (excel table)
Many thanks in advance
Joe
Dear community,
how can I create multiple parallel planes at once, that have different distances between them? Quantity of levels and their distances should be controlled parametrically (excel table)
Many thanks in advance
Joe
The question begs as to why you need so many planes? Depending on what you are trying to do, there may be other ways to accomplish...
I would like to create a basic transmission tower module, whose geometry is given by a truncated pyramid and a variable number of parallel planes with different distances. All of these entities will be parametrically controlled. And just the definition of the number of planes makes me troubles.
Can you Attach that file here?
I would do this. You have dimensions in the top layout line.
Creating planes is not one shot but you can control it by excel, doesn't make sense?
Maybe simply used Extruded Surfaces.
You can do this with a simple line sketch with parametric dimensions locating the lines for extruding the surfaces.
I like to make the planar surfaces transparent to resemble WorkPlanes.
What version of SolidWorks are you using?
J. Mather wrote:
I like to make the planar surfaces transparent to resemble WorkPlanes.
Interesting, that is something I'm gonna try.. Thanks
I like the surface approach. Gives you the option to delete the bodies when you no long require them as well.
Bjorn Hulman wrote:
I like the surface approach. Gives you the option to delete the bodies when you no long require them as well.
You can simply Hide them.
Yes you can, and you can hide planes too. But you can't delete planes. You also can't use planes for intersection curves.
EDIT:
correction, you can of course delete a plane, but it'll in all likeliness cause mass destruction. A nice delete body feature cleans up all those functional surface bodies nicely.
Bjorn Hulman wrote:
correction, you can of course delete a plane, but it'll in all likeliness cause mass destruction. A nice delete body feature cleans up all those functional surface bodies nicely.
You can also have "Mass Destruction" with surfaces... It all depends on the Parent/Child Feature Relationship...
John Stoltzfus, that depends on how you delete the surface. If you use the delete body feature, any references created before that feature remain intact. If you just delete the surface feature then yes you're in the same boat as you are with planes.
Bjorn Hulman - Thanks for the explanation.... Just wanted to make sure that new users have a little more info - thanks
Bjorn Hulman - I also need to be reminded of the same thing, here we are using SW for a long time, sometimes my assumption is people used SW for a long time, not even considering they are just starting their career in design using SW. So yeah, we all need reminders, don't hesitate to remind me as well
Don't worry, I won't!
Hello Joe,
It is very simple. while creating plane manually, increase the number of instances. Refer attachment.
Hope it helps you. Thanks
Best Regards,
Dinesh Kumar
Hi Joe,
You are talking about reference table with excel table.
Configuration should be used and only right way. You can design automatically mix used with excel table, like as macro.
Mr. Takashima is correct.
(90 ref planes can be suppressed by excel, "U" or "S", The status depends on the formula, easily can be expressed by excel.)
I recommend the usage of "configuration"
Pretty sure a macro is the only way to do it. You can't pattern reference geometry. Wanna know why? Me too.
Why can't I pattern reference geometry?
There are ways to work around it (sort of) like using planar surfaces or making a pattern of components in an assembly that have planes.