topic How to keep referenced dimensions working when copying part of a sketch? in Fusion Support Forum

How to keep referenced dimensions working when copying part of a sketch?

thijsmoring — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 14:05:22 GMT

For example, I have a sketch with a rectangle with a fixed dimension (d1 = 5) and a calculated dimension (d2 = d1 * 2) When I copy the rectangle with the dimenions, the new rectangle will have dimension d3 & d4. Now, d3 = 5, and d4 = d1 * 2.

Is there any way to have d4 reference to the copy, making it d4 = d3 * 2?

I'm designing a wrench holder for 32 wrenches, and all the dimensions for the slots and springs are driven by the with and height of each wrench. I would like to draw one, copy it 31 times and only change the width and height of each rectangle which represents a wrench.

Re: How to keep referenced dimensions working when copying part of a sketch?

jeff_strater — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 19:57:10 GMT

There is no automatic way to do this (like, say, in Excel, where copying a formula to a new cell will automatically adjust the referenced cell incrementally). You will have to just update the equations manually in the Parameters dialog.

Re: How to keep referenced dimensions working when copying part of a sketch?

thijsmoring — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 20:35:18 GMT

I've been trying a bit more since I posted, and I found a bit of a workaround. I've copied part of my sketch to a new sketch in a sub-component which I called Master. All dimensions in this master reference the dimension of 1 object in this sketch, the diameter of a circle. If I copy the Master and use Paste New to create a new component then the new sketch inside the new component works as intended. All the dimensions now reference the diameter of the circle in the new sketch.

To "simplify" things a bit I've created one main sketch with 32 circles to specify all the locations and dimensions. After copying the Master I set the dimension of the circle to Driven, and then place an equal constrained on the circle on the main sketch and the copied sketch. That way I can control all the dimensions on 1 sketch.