I have created a parameterized profile family to use in a sweep. There are several closed loops, but they are never inside of each other. (for example, 3 circles controlled by a radius and then a parameter of 6*radius controlling the center to ceter distance between them) I brought the profile into a family and used it to create an extrusion. It creates the extrusion, but once the profile parameters are linked to the family parameters and I try to flex them, any change breaks the extrusion with a "cant make type" error. If I reduce the profile to one closed loop it flexes perfectly, but when I try any other arrangement of multiple shapes, it always breaks once I try to adjust parameters. I know you cannot have closed loops inside of each other, but the arrangements I have never intersect or enclose each other. It also sweeps correctly initially, but breaks upon flexing. Is it possible to get this working or am I attempting the impossible. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Solved! Go to Solution.
Solved by TTrschmitt. Go to Solution.
I mis-typed. where it says "extrusion" I meant to write "sweep," you cannot use profiles in extrusions, the parent family I am making requires profiles, so I am using straight-line sweeps in place of extrusions.
Also, since it is a profile, there is no "sketch" the profile family is a sketch in its own right.
I used the circle geometry as a conceptual example. If youd like to see what I am actually working on see the attached file. It flexes fine when in the profile family, but breaks with a "cannot make type" error when you use it in a parent family for a sweep.
That is correct, I am trying to modify these values in the sweep. I thought the same thing with respect to reference planes, but had the same results. Profiles can be perfectly happy without a reference plane for every line drawn.
your suggestion is similar to what we have now as well. The hope was to creat a series of profile families, one for each pile configuration (7 piles, 4 piles, 30 piles etc.) that could be flexed to change the geometry of each pile, but retain the design geometry of the system, then make a parent pile cap family that was all inclusive of pile sizes and configurations, with a type parameter to select the appropriate profile. But I have hit a wall here. What we have now works, but I was exploring more efficient and flexible alternatives.
Thanks for your help
The issue lies with equality dimensions and dimensional parameters not getting along when dealing with linework and reference planes at the same time. Previously I had two closed loops whose lines were all dimensionally parameterized and an equality dimension from a line of one closed loop to the center reference plan to a line of the other closed loop. By adding a reference plane for each of the closed loops, dimensioning all linework of each closed loop to each exclusive reference plane, then dimensioning the equality parameters only between reference planes, it works. Still confusing that it flexed previously in the profile but broke once it was used in a sweep. Thanks again for your help.
If anyone is interested, compare the relationship of this attached family with the one I previously posted.