Mobile crane blocks

[robmcclymont85]

Hi there, hoping someone can help me out. Newbie here, only just learning how to create dynamic  blocks. When I add a rotate to a mobile crane boom I can't manage to keep my hook and cables at 90 degrees due to angle of boom changing. Hope this makes sense.

Thank you.

[j.palmeL29YX]

Show properties: 

The parameter is listed (visible) in the properties panel (ctrl+1) and if allowed its value can be changed here

Not show properties: 

The parameter is not listed (not visible) in the properties panel. 

[jldafhegae]

I understand what you're trying to do with the crane block — keeping the hook and cables aligned at 90 degrees as the boom rotates can be tricky, especially if you're working with dynamic blocks in AutoCAD. Here's a solution you could try:

1. Using Dynamic Block Parameters:
   One way to solve this would be to set up a dynamic block with a rotation parameter. This will allow you to control the rotation of the crane boom and simultaneously control the hook and cables' alignment.

2. Use the "Align" Action:
   You can create an alignment action in your dynamic block that forces the hook and cables to align to the rotation angle of the boom. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

   • Create the rotation parameter for the boom.
   • Add an align action to the hook and cables that references the boom's rotation angle.
   • Set the alignment to keep the hook/cables at 90 degrees relative to the boom, using either a fixed angle or a constraint.

3. Reference and Constraints:
   Another method is to use AutoCAD’s constraint system (like angle constraints) to lock the hook’s angle relative to the boom. This may work better if you need the cables to follow the boom's rotation while maintaining a fixed angle.

4. More about

If this doesn’t quite solve the issue, I'd suggest checking out some tutorials on dynamic block actions, as they can be a little tricky when you’re starting out.

[j.palmeL29YX]

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@jldafhegae wrote:

1. Using Dynamic Block Parameters:
   One way to solve this would be to set up a dynamic block with a rotation parameter.

See post #2. 

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@jldafhegae wrote:

1. ...

2. Use the "Align" Action:

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AutoCAD doesn't know an "Align Action" in Dynamic Blocks. 

What / which command(s) do you mean?  

Maybe your post is an AI generated text (?). You should test your suggestions before posting.