CAD Forum

Mike Gera

I'm just now discovering that Global Variables aren't needed for what I'm trying to accomplish here. Hard values can be assigned to a dimension across multiple configurations. That seems to be reliable with no issues.

Mike Gera

I was able to get it to work both with and without underscores in the variable names. See attached files, if interested. I went through and eradicated everything, then systematically linked the variables via the "Equations, Global Variables, and Dimensions" window. Setting the variables at...

Mike Gera

Please see the screen capture below.

Thanks.

Mike Gera

I entered (4) global variables in the attached part: length_01 = 1.0 length_02 = 2.0 length_03 = 3.0 length_04 = 4.0 I then made (4) different configurations and attempted to link D2@Sketch1 to the 4 different global variables using the "This Configuration" setting in the dimension Modify ...

Mike Gera

It's hokey, but you can add spaces before/after the weld size value and/or weld length-pitch values:image.png The downside is that when you go back into the weld symbol editor, it may look like there is no value: image.png I had thought about that but shied away, partially for the reason you mentio...

Mike Gera

Most likely, yeah! In french it's "Jonction" which can translate to both jog point and junction depending. Gotcha. I was hoping for less of a workaround solution, but this works. I can "snap" the line parallel. It doesn't lock in place, but at least it's truly parallel. Thanks, ...

Mike Gera

AlexLachance wrote: ↑Wed Feb 21, 2024 9:35 am You can right click on it's arrow and add a junction and then set it parralel to the other and have it the desired length

image.png

Hi Alex.

Do you mean a "jog point"? I do not see an option for "junction".

Also, how would I lock it parallel?

Thanks.

Mike Gera

Is it possible to lengthen the reference line of a weld note? Yes, it can effectively be done by adding a jog point, but I prefer not to do it this way. Please see the image below. (I did this in AutoCAD.) Is this possible? Thanks. https://i.imgur.com/GSxFl3f.png ... https://www.arcraftplasma.com/we...

Mike Gera

josh wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 2:00 pm You'll probably need to create an equation to set the twist value (currently 21600°) to be driven by the sum of the lengths of the path segments.

Interesting. Good suggestion. I'll give that a try.

Mike Gera

Please see the attached .SLDPRT. Currently, the helical cut (Cut-Sweep4) is making 60 revolutions along its path. I would like to change that to 1 revolution every 0.125" along its path. For clarity, I would like the pitch to remain at 0.125" regardless of what the path length is. Is this ...

Mike Gera

By the way, has anyone noticed that this forum is very slow (as in load speeds, post speeds, etc.)?

Mike Gera

I've tried all the suggestions in this thread (much appreciative of all of them). Nothing seems to work. I did notice that if I open one of the suspect .SLDPRT files and rebuild it, then go back into the .SLDDRW, the undesired lines disappear...until I pan. I'm going to declare this one a bug or a g...

Mike Gera

SPerman wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2024 2:16 pm Try turning off annotations. That is what controls that being displayed in modelling. I assume it does the same in drafting. (I can't test it now, due to power outage from storms.)

No luck there.

Mike Gera

image.png One way is to set your cosmetic threads to high quality. For some reason, draft quality makes them shine through. Another way is to hide them at the part level. 1. Cosmetic threads are already turned off and/or are non-existent. 2. Cosmetic thread display is already set to high quality. T...

Mike Gera

AlexLachance wrote: ↑Tue Jan 09, 2024 1:47 pm Cosmetic threads and/or surfacic bodies could do something like this.

Thanks. Where can they be turned off?

Mike Gera

In the view below, the elliptical line indicated with the red arrow should not be showing.

FWIW, the view is set to "hidden lines removed"

Any idea what could be causing this?

Note that a similar thing is happening at the top of item #6.

Thanks for any help.

Mike Gera

Have you given a look at this? image.png I believe this would be part of the SW2DXF mapfile. As usual, sorry for the frenchitude :lol: Thanks, Alex. How is a map file generated? Are you sure the map file isn't limited to layers, colors, and line types? ETA: I think what I want to do is going to be ...

Mike Gera

I'm not aware of a way to set a default, but when you choose to save as .dxf, you will get an Options button near the bottom left corner of the "Save as" dialog box. The settings you choose there will be "sticky." I hope this helps, but I'm not sure it does. Hi Glenn. Yes, I did...

Mike Gera

I realize that this is likely AutoCAD-related and not SolidWorks-related, but is there a way to set a default .dxf template?

Thanks.

Mike Gera

I just checked. You can get both perpendicular and tangent (assuming the first line was vertical or horizontal, at least). When placing the arc, if you will click to finish it when you see the blue horizontal and vertical dotted lines then you can place the second line with the relations you want. ...

Mike Gera

Glenn Schroeder wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 8:21 am That's correct.

I don't know. Can you please explain what that is for the slower members of the class (like me)?

Imagine a world where uppey/downey and leftie/righie was all you had.

Mike Gera

Does SolidWorks have an ORTHO mode?

Mike Gera

OK, I now see what the problem is and where the confusion lies. I'm able to infer the 2nd tangency relation, but not necessarily at the desired 90 degrees. I'm basically trading the tangency for the perpendicularity.

Mike Gera

Then I can't imagine why you can't get the second line tangent. Something just occurred to me. After clicking to place the arc, and moving your cursor to start a line from its endpoint, you will only get the option to make this line tangent to the arc in its present location. If your cursor isn't c...

Mike Gera

Glenn Schroeder wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 1:41 pm The arc is automatically tangent to the first line, but I'm able to get the other one tangent also. If you can't I suspect one of the options at Tools > Options > System Options > Sketch > Relations/Snaps isn't checked.

image.png

Hi Glen,

This is how they're set:

Mike Gera

I've now gotten it to the point where I need to add one tangency.

Mike Gera

AlexLachance wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 10:37 am The tangency relations are supposed to add themselves automatically. Not the case on your end..?

Not happening on my end.

Mike Gera

Frederick_Law wrote: ↑Tue Nov 14, 2023 10:00 am

Thanks, Frederick.

This works, but it does require that I then go back and add two "tangency relations. Is there a way to avoid having to do that?

Mike Gera

In a part sketch, what is the most efficient workflow for transitioning from a straight line to a fillet and then back to a straight line? Currently, for example, I'll draw a 90-degree hard corner, then as a secondary operation, add a sketch fillet. I'm pretty sure there's a way to add the sketch fi...

Mike Gera

Hello Mike, I don't know if this is what you are looking for or not but we have been using on that @Jaylin Hochstetler modified from a macro that I believe someone else created Here is a link: https://www.cadforum.net/download/file.php?id=1387 Edited to add a link to the thread where this is locate...

Mike Gera

Frederick_Law wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 10:34 am Just need some training and setup defaults which should be default when SW install.

Training? Don't need no stinking training. Need CADForum.

Mike Gera

Frederick_Law wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 10:11 am SW can export DXF 1:1 all the time. Regardless what scale the view is.

Yes. And having it export to anything other than 1:1 requires a deliberate effort, which is (surprisingly) the way it should be.

Mike Gera

Glenn Schroeder wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2023 8:50 am I could make you a list of the options that I think are in the wrong place, but we don't have that much time.

I hear you.

Mike Gera

Ah, now I see that from the .SLDPRT:

File -> Save As -> .dxf

is a more direct and efficient workflow than doing a .SLDDRW first. And 1:1 is default / implied.

I would like to make a macro / API do to this in one click. Should that be possible?

Thanks.

Mike Gera

mp3-250 wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 6:09 pm irrc dxf export should have the 1:1 scale option independent from the drawing sheet settings somewhere

On an .SLDDRW, Save As -> .DXF will always output 1:1?

Mike Gera

If you uncheck the following: image.png Then, drawing views should be set to sheet scale automatically. And if your template is set to 1:1, then it should do what you want. Thanks. I was hoping there would exist a Document Property. If I change it globally, I'll lose a very useful, efficiency-enhan...

Mike Gera

AlexLachance wrote: ↑Wed Nov 01, 2023 3:04 pm I'm sure it is through programming because our DXF's are generated that way.

We use Customtools and it has a sorta DXF generator in it.

Hi Alex,

By "programming", do you mean API?

I am not familiar with Customtools.

Is that an SW add-in?

Thanks.

Mike Gera

I have a dedicated Sheet Format that I use to create .dxf files of sheet metal parts' flat patterns.

The .dxf files are later used to laser-cut the part.

Is it possible to force the scale of all inserted drawing views to 1:1?

Is that a setting somewhere?

Thanks.

Mike Gera

SPerman wrote: ↑Mon Oct 30, 2023 3:50 pm That drives me insane. I'm sure there is some situation where it might be helpful, but it hasn't found its way into my workflow.

It would be nice if it could be disabled.

Mike Gera

@jcapriotti

On mine, the lower feature tree seems to mirror the upper. How would I use one in a different manner than the other?

Thanks.

Mike Gera

Obviously not directly related, but what is the purpose of the double duplicated vertical feature tree? I never understood that.

Thanks.

Mike Gera

Thank you, all. It's quite obvious now what I did. Some good advice here.

I'll work with this.

Mike Gera

The fabrication department told me that the corners of the attached part need additional relief. I had Auto Relief set to Tear. I tried changing it to Obround (0.5). It had no effect on the Flat Pattern. I then tried Rectangular (0.5). That had no effect on the flat pattern. I then tried different n...

Mike Gera

Frederick_Law wrote: ↑Wed Aug 30, 2023 3:07 pm Chain projection is next on that list.

What is a chain projection?

Thanks.

Mike Gera

You could use the "Dimension View" in the equation manger to see all dimensions, then the filter box show only the boxes that contain the dimension. image.png image.png Ah, thanks. On a related note, how would I search for the feature or features that use, for example, "D2@Sketch85&q...

Mike Gera

Setup Variables to use in equation. Only use dimension from same sketch/feature. Setup Variables for cross sketch/feature dimensions. Don't do "chain" dimension: D2=D1, D3=D2, D4=D3 etc. Make it: D2=D1, D3=D1, D4=D1 Not to be "that guy", but is there any way you could post a .SL...

Mike Gera

I've been dealing with a lot of "The following equations could not be evaluated because of deleted/invalid dimensions:" ...errors on a large, complex part that I've been working on. Why I'm getting the error is no mystery: I'm deleting features that contain in-play variables. The question ...

Mike Gera

SPerman wrote: ↑Fri Aug 25, 2023 1:46 pm After reading this, I followed JSculley's recommendation, but I have the Ambient set to .75. I find that to be a nice balance.

I tried ambient = 0.75, but everything still looks washed out.

Mike Gera

JSculley wrote: ↑Fri Aug 25, 2023 7:07 am It's the lighting and the scene settings. See this post.

Thanks. Just replied to that post.

Mike Gera

Turn off the directional lights, set the Scene to 'Plain White' and set the Ambient light 'Ambient' value to 1. If you do that, what's on the screen will match the RGB values of the appearance: image.png That improves the color match, but then there's almost nothing left in the way of contrast. Eve...

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