SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [151]
Figure 10.18
Starting the Equations tutorial
2. Show the dimension names. Choose View⇒Show Dimension Names to find this setting.
3. Double-click the Circular Pattern feature to display the angle and number of instances of the feet and related features. You may have to move the angle dimension to see the pattern instance number.
4. Click the instance number. Change the name of the dimension to # (pound or number sign) in the Dimension PropertyManager. Make sure that Instant3D is unselected when doing this.
5. Double-click the first feature, which is the revolve, and rename the 3.60-inch dimension CapRad, again by selecting it and using the PropertyManager.
6. Write an equation that drives the number of legs by CapRad/7.
a. Open the Equations dialog box by choosing Tools⇒Equations.
b. Click Add to add an equation.
c. Double-click the Circular Pattern and click the # dimension. Make sure that the name of the dimension is listed in the equation box, and type an equal sign.
d. Double-click the Revolve feature and select the CapRad dimension; then type the characters /1.5.
e. Add a comment to the equation to reflect which dimension is driving which dimension.
7. Click Rebuild, press Ctrl+B or Ctrl+Q to rebuild the model, and observe whether any update takes place.
8. Rename the 6.00-inch dimension for the height of the revolved feature to DomeHt.
9. Create a second equation that drives the DomeHt dimension at the current ratio of the height to the radius.
a. Create a global variable called Ratio = 6/3.6 (1.66667) in the Equations dialog box.
b. Create the equation. The equation will take the form of DomeHt = (Ratio) × CapRad. You can use the drop-down list under the calculator pad to select the Ratio variable from the list.
10. Use a link value to make the radii of Fillet1 and Fillet2 the same.
11. Double-click the revolve feature. Change the CapRad dimension to 5 and rebuild. You should observe 3 feet. Change it again to 6 and you should see 4 feet.
12. Give the part a new name, including your initials or the date, and save and close it.
Summary
SolidWorks equations and related dimension-management tools are powerful but often leave you wishing for a little more flexibility and control. The interface is not up to date with the rest of the SolidWorks interface, and so I would look to see an updated equation interface soon that integrates dimension input, link values, and global variables.
Be careful about crossing SolidWorks native equation functionality with configurations; you may end up with dimensions that are controlled by both tools. Remember that the calculation capability of Excel is far greater than what is found in SolidWorks equations.
Chapter 11: Working with Part Configurations
In This Chapter
Controlling part configurations
Exploring design tables
Creating a design table
Examining the benefits of using the Configuration Publisher
Working with configurations and design tables tutorial
Configurations, also known as simply configs, are variations of a part in which dimensions are changed, features are suppressed (turned off), and other items such as color or custom properties may be controlled. Configurations enable you to have these variations within a single part file, which is both convenient and efficient.
This chapter deals only with part configurations, but assemblies can also have configurations. Assembly configurations can use different part configurations, among other things. This will mean more to you as you learn about part configurations.
Cross-Reference
Assembly configurations are discussed in the SolidWorks 2011 Assemblies Bible (Wiley, 2011).
One example of configurations is having many sizes of a fastener within a single part file. Socket Head Cap Screws have thousands of potential sizes, and you could very efficiently reuse the same sketches and features to create all of those sizes based on a table. Configured parts can also have features that you