Announcements
IMPORTANT. Forum to be archived in several phases. You can no longer submit new questions - but can only answer existing threads until Oct 17th 2016. Please read this message for details
Mechanical Desktop (Read Only)
cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Sweeps don't support table driven variables

14 REPLIES 14
Reply
Message 1 of 15
Anonymous
211 Views, 14 Replies

Sweeps don't support table driven variables

I have an assembly of a small pumping station. The parts - pump, motor, drivebase, shed etc. - are all local and are constrained using values and global design variables. I have two table driven variants ie. the pump is in a different location for each variant. In MS I can activate either variant and the pump locates correctly. However the associated piping - generated using 3D pipe path and sweep and global design variables - will not change. The pipe path accepts design variables but immediately converts them to values which are used for the piping in both variants. Editing the Excel spreadsheet has no effect and the design variables dialogue box shows that the design variables for the pipe path are Unused.

Also, is there a way of hiding a part file in one variant while unhiding it in another?

And while I'm on the subject why does a scene generated from the first variant change to be the same as the scene generated by the second variant?

Or have I missed something!
14 REPLIES 14
Message 2 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Can't help with the spread sheet issue, but is scene locking what you need
for the different configurations?

Would it be feasible for you to make each configuration a different assembly
file (saveas, change components, etc)? This might cure all the problems,
assuming they were linked to different spread sheets. (2 cents worth)

Jeff
------------------------------
RobertB wrote in message
news:f082f4a.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
I have an assembly of a small pumping station. The parts - pump, motor,
drivebase, shed etc. - are all local and are constrained using values and
global design variables. I have two table driven variants ie. the pump is in
a different location for each variant. In MS I can activate either variant
and the pump locates correctly. However the associated piping - generated
using 3D pipe path and sweep and global design variables - will not change.
The pipe path accepts design variables but immediately converts them to
values which are used for the piping in both variants. Editing the Excel
spreadsheet has no effect and the design variables dialogue box shows that
the design variables for the pipe path are Unused.
Also, is there a way of hiding a part file in one variant while unhiding it
in another?

And while I'm on the subject why does a scene generated from the first
variant change to be the same as the scene generated by the second variant?

Or have I missed something!
Message 3 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

I haven't tried it, but I wonder if you made the part then made a new empty part, .... did
a amcombine to join the original part if you could then suppress the combine with the
table? ... the part would still be there but it would be empty...... (if it worked)
--
Kent


"RobertB" wrote in message news:f082f4a.-1@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...

> Also, is there a way of hiding a part file in one variant while unhiding it in another?
Message 4 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Jeff, Thanks for your reply. I made two assembly files, scrapped the spreadsheet and moved on. Pity though.

RobertB
Message 5 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Kent, See my reply to Jeff. Can I add 'design variable' support for sweeps to a wish list. Robert
Message 6 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Can you make a small example of what you were trying to do? I am probably not
understanding, but for a quick test, I just made 3 global variables, then I made a
3dpoly, and ran am3dpath Pipe option on it. I plugged the global variables in a
couple of spots for the path, and then I changed the variables values and the path
updated.

Obviously this isn't tied to Excel, and I haven't actually swept the part but am I
missing something else?

For wishlists, go to the link below. Brian has put up a great list, and I think the
developers are actually using it for planning future additions.

--
Kent Keller
http://kwik-mcad.scriptmania.com/
Check out the Mechanical Desktop FAQ @
http://mymcad.com/
See the MDT/ Inventor wishlists!
www.cadsense.co.nz/wishmain.htm


"RobertB" wrote in message news:f082f4a.3@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Kent, See my reply to Jeff. Can I add 'design variable' support for sweeps to a
wish list. Robert
>
Message 7 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

I made a sample .dwg and .xls but can't post it to the CF. I get a message saying that no sender name is given and I don't know what to do about it. But you are on the right track. Now create a spread sheet, make a second variant, give the variables new values and update the link. In your dwg, selecting the variants in turn should alter the pipe path but it doesn't. The design variable dialogue box reflects the table driven values but display a U as well as a T indicating that they are unused.

Robert
Message 8 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Can you just reply to me with it, and I will post it to customer files for you? If
I get a chance I will play with the info below, but it is always quicker to take
something someone else has done so we are both on the same page for things.

--
Kent Keller
http://kwik-mcad.scriptmania.com/
Check out the Mechanical Desktop FAQ @
http://mymcad.com/
See the MDT/ Inventor wishlists!
www.cadsense.co.nz/wishmain.htm


"RobertB" wrote in message news:f082f4a.5@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> I made a sample .dwg and .xls but can't post it to the CF. I get a message saying
that no sender name is given and I don't know what to do about it. But you are on
the right track. Now create a spread sheet, make a second variant, give the
variables new values and update the link. In your dwg, selecting the variants in
turn should alter the pipe path but it doesn't. The design variable dialogue box
reflects the table driven values but display a U as well as a T indicating that they
are unused.
> Robert
>
>
Message 9 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

I'm feeling stupid. I tried copy and paste but it won't work. Robert
Message 10 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Kent, I appreciate your help. You've got a living to make too. I succeeded in posting 'ampipe sample.dwg' and 'ampipe sample.xls' to the CF. Robert
Message 11 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Robert
Me??? Make a living??? Just imagine how crazy I would be if I actually made a
income

Well I see what you mean, when the variable is used in the Length field. But it
works in the other fields?? I reposted your drawing and excel . It looks like I
should have left the first row alone or something because it jumps around when you
change styles, but it is a way to approach it anyhow. Good luck.

--
Kent Keller
http://kwik-mcad.scriptmania.com/
Check out the Mechanical Desktop FAQ @
http://mymcad.com/
See the MDT/ Inventor wishlists!
www.cadsense.co.nz/wishmain.htm


"RobertB" wrote in message news:f082f4a.9@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> Kent, I appreciate your help. You've got a living to make too. I succeeded in
posting 'ampipe sample.dwg' and 'ampipe sample.xls' to the CF. Robert
>
Message 12 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Ignore my first post to customer files. I had two copies of the dwg, and sent the
one I didn't do anything to. Duhhh

--
Kent Keller
http://kwik-mcad.scriptmania.com/
Check out the Mechanical Desktop FAQ @
http://mymcad.com/
See the MDT/ Inventor wishlists!
www.cadsense.co.nz/wishmain.htm
Message 13 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

Robert,

For some reason I couldn't download your sample dwg, even though the spreadsheet would.

I had quick play with table driving a 3d pipe & it appears to work if you apply the variables to the Delta X, Y & Z boxes all the others seem to accept the text but then revert back to the dimn as you say marking the variable field with a U. You would think if it accepts info in some of the boxes it would in all of them, maybe this is actually a bug ? It would be pretty handy if you could RMB & get the typical drop down for accessing the equation assistance etc.

Cheers, Graham
Message 14 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

So..... is it logged as a bug?? Please forgive my naivity, but what does RMB mean? Robert
Message 15 of 15
Anonymous
in reply to: Anonymous

RMB= Right Mouse Button

--
Kent Keller
http://kwik-mcad.scriptmania.com/
Check out the Mechanical Desktop FAQ @
http://mymcad.com/
See the MDT/ Inventor wishlists!
www.cadsense.co.nz/wishmain.htm


"RobertB" wrote in message news:f082f4a.13@WebX.maYIadrTaRb...
> So..... is it logged as a bug?? Please forgive my naivity, but what does RMB mean?
Robert
>

Can't find what you're looking for? Ask the community or share your knowledge.

Post to forums  

Autodesk Design & Make Report