Why can't I change the slot length from 2.4 to 2.0 millimeters?
Why can't I change the slot length from 2.4 to 2.0 millimeters?
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for your response. But when you click on the slot itself it brings up a dialog box with the dimensions. If you try to change those dimensions they don't change. Plus the fact that the dimension that you added was to center to center, whereas it was created from tangency to tangency. Either way, it is a bug in the system.
When you assign the dimension to the slot hold down the shift key and select near the center quadrant of the arc do the same for the other side without releasing the shift key. The dim will now be to the outside of the arcs or overall length of the slot when you release the shift key.
Can I ask why you are taking 3 steps to do your cuts where they can all be done in one cut step? (see my edit of your part) The way you are doing it will create a very large tree in a complicated part. I alway try to minimize steps in a tree whenever possible.
Hi Gary,
Thanks for your response. I learn something new every day. I suppose all these techniques about holding down shift keys are buried somewhere in some manual, but user friendly, SolidWorks isn't. The slot tool should have placed those dimensions for me and not have made me go through all these extra steps.
Also, I don't think I am a fan of your "all cuts" approach. In developing a part one is not always as visionary as to see all the cuts one will need to make as you go along. I suppose you could always go back and keep updating the first cut, but I like to keep my sketches simple and my holes and chamfers separate so that I can find them in the tree. One of the things that I hate about working on other peoples parts is a lot of times their sketches are so huge and complicated, that if you try to change something the whole sketch blows up. In other words, I am a fan of the KISS method.
All the best,
Paul R. Finch
The slot tool should have placed those dimensions for me and not have made me go through all these extra steps.
Did you have the Add dimensions option selected?
Outside or centre to centre dimension placement is also an option.
The Parameters dialogue box works fine for me in adjusting the sizes, however I never use it. I prefer to use actual sketch dimensions which can then be used to populate the drawings using the Insert > Model Items function.
Because there is no dimension to change. Edit the sketch and add dimensions to the slot, then you will have something to change.