Automatic Sizing of Features and Components
When adding a feature, its size can be automatically determined based on an element selected from the model. The same applies to components. For example, you can automatically define the size of a wedge groove based on the diameter of a shaft selected from the model.
When adding a wedge groove feature to a model, you can click a shaft diameter (cylindrical face) from the model. Then you can select the dimension sets (table IDs) with minimum and maximum values between which the selected diameter fits, from the dimension table of the feature.
You can also use the maximum value only. You can then select the dimension sets that have maximum values larger than the diameter selected from the model, from the dimension table of the feature.
If the dimension value selected from the model cannot be found in the dimension table, all dimension sets defined for the feature are opened in the dimension table and you can select one of them.
Enabling the Automation
In order that the size of a feature or a component can be automatically defined, automation must be taken into consideration when creating new feature/component geometry and the dimension table. Model the part as follows:
- Create two dimension constraints in one of the part's sketches. The elements connected to the dimension constraints do not necessarily need to control the right geometry.
Example - You can create two reference lines and add dimension constraints for them.
- Add variables for the dimension constraints previously added to the sketch, and add the suffixes _min and _max to the variable names. You can also add a suffix to only one of the variables.
Example - If d denotes the diameter in the dimension table, name the constraint variables as d_min and/or d_max.
- Once the part geometry is finished, select the context-sensitive function Dimension Table.
- Name the table ID and fill in values for the d_min and d_max variables in the dimension table. Create more new dimension sets (table IDs).
- Save the part in the feature library or the component library.
Example - Library feature SFS_2636_A
Minimum and maximum values have been defined for the two variables of a library feature, Diameter (d) and Length (l). The library feature is located in the System/Shaft_and_Flange/Wedge_Grooves/Shaft folder.
The Diameter and Length variables are related to enabling the Click button in the dimension table.
