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How do I automatically space these lines without the block falling apart?

Hunteil
Collaborator

How do I automatically space these lines without the block falling apart?

Hunteil
Collaborator
Collaborator

My team has been using blocks with these zone lines spaced out.

Hunteil_0-1736877593593.png

 

So I attempted to build these into a dynamic block. But the parametric tools are confusing me. Normally these blocks don't need this and only have an adjustable Length and Width. But due to these lines needing to be moved based on a parameter, I'm confused on the process in AutoCAD.

 

Each line is a Zone edge and are spaced by the intended parameter/or preferably attribute of Zone. The last zone won't always be equal to the other zones...

Hunteil_0-1736896144432.png

 

Can someone please look at this and show me what could be a better way?
Am I supposed to constrain everything to the origin?

(attached block is simplified for explanation.)

Inventor: Model States is not a replacement for iParts / iAssemblies. It does not have all the same features yet and does not communicate well with our large currently in use libraries. ๐Ÿ˜ž https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/model-state-support-tabulated-parts-list/idc-p/11360616

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Brock_Olly
Advocate
Advocate

You can use an arraypath using a line on the edge to divide into zones, I created an example in file attached. 

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MMcCall402
Mentor
Mentor

This is my attempt.  First I stripped all the constraints. (Its a bad idea to mix them with parameters within the same block)  I added a linear parameter and a couple stretch actions operated by the Length parameter to adjust its end points.  Then I added a few Move actions, with modified distance multipliers, to move the lines as needed when the Distance1 parameter is adjusted by the Length parameter.  Set the Distance1 parameter to be Chained so its actions happen when its adjusted.

 

MMcCall402_0-1736958200215.png

 

Mark Mccall 
CAD Mangler



Hammer Land Engineering


Linkedin

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Hunteil
Collaborator
Collaborator

I like your idea. But I can only edit the Item qty... can the array edited to focus on the distance between each line? i.e. It can only be 30... so if the overall length shortens, the last item disappears.... Update... I created a new path array and it let me pick a distance... Is there a way to make the first and last line disappear? Or is that just the nature of the beast? I can see us just ignoring those lines.

Screenshot 2025-01-28 125215.jpg

Inventor: Model States is not a replacement for iParts / iAssemblies. It does not have all the same features yet and does not communicate well with our large currently in use libraries. ๐Ÿ˜ž https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/model-state-support-tabulated-parts-list/idc-p/11360616

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Hunteil
Collaborator
Collaborator

@MMcCall402 , I'm a bit lost on what you did to make yours work. I understand you kept all the stretching which is cool. But the move actions are throwing me off. Like the end result some how makes more zone lines. But once it gets too small, it just stops and the line pops outside the original box. So far, @Brock_Olly 's attempt seems to make the most sense. But then when the width stretches, it seems to break. Any advisement on making this work better?
Screenshot 2025-01-28 131133.jpg

Inventor: Model States is not a replacement for iParts / iAssemblies. It does not have all the same features yet and does not communicate well with our large currently in use libraries. ๐Ÿ˜ž https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/model-state-support-tabulated-parts-list/idc-p/11360616

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MMcCall402
Mentor
Mentor

In my attempt I didn't use any type of array.  Instead I used a few move actions to move the vertical lines as needed and by the amount as needed, or so I thought.

 

I don't have a full understanding of that the object is or how its supposed to behave at different values, or if there are limits to its range of motion.

 

 

Mark Mccall 
CAD Mangler



Hammer Land Engineering


Linkedin

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Hunteil
Collaborator
Collaborator

@MMcCall402 
It's a conveyor. The zone lines are control zones for motors and sensors to control in real life. We just show them to remind all parties what the set length needs to be. Also it visually helps when comparing to nearby blocks that are picked wrong. Essentially I need to be able to resize the the overall shape via length and width, which I got down before this... But the zone lines and their spacing are confusing me.

 

I attached an example dwg showing what I wanted and my current failure.

Inventor: Model States is not a replacement for iParts / iAssemblies. It does not have all the same features yet and does not communicate well with our large currently in use libraries. ๐Ÿ˜ž https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/model-state-support-tabulated-parts-list/idc-p/11360616

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Brock_Olly
Advocate
Advocate

See file attached, is this the result you wanted? Or do you want the grip to be in the center

Brock_Olly
Advocate
Advocate
Accepted solution

Version with grip in the middle

Hunteil
Collaborator
Collaborator

@Brock_Olly 
Responding to Zone3.dwg Yes! That's impressive!
Anyway to make it work with the origin in the middle? Or is it better coming from the end? I tried to create my own following your example, but noticed the zone lines arraying outside the block.

Inventor: Model States is not a replacement for iParts / iAssemblies. It does not have all the same features yet and does not communicate well with our large currently in use libraries. ๐Ÿ˜ž https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/model-state-support-tabulated-parts-list/idc-p/11360616

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Brock_Olly
Advocate
Advocate

In the zones3.dwg file the origin is in the middle? Or what do you mean?

Brock_Olly_0-1738571484704.png

 

Hunteil
Collaborator
Collaborator

Oh I see! Yea it's already set for middle to be origin. (The array coming from the side tripped me up.) I think I can use this and make my blocks from here. Thank you so much!

Inventor: Model States is not a replacement for iParts / iAssemblies. It does not have all the same features yet and does not communicate well with our large currently in use libraries. ๐Ÿ˜ž https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-ideas/model-state-support-tabulated-parts-list/idc-p/11360616

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