stretching line while rotating another

[Anonymous]

I just learned about dynamic blocks and have been watching videos but I think I am using these parameters and constraints incorrectly.I have a solar panels on a flat roof with two vertical legs. I want to be able to rotate the roof along the point where the short leg intersects the roof while elongating the the longer leg while keeping it touching the roof all while keeping the distance between the legs fixed and vertical. I have tried every combination of paremeters and constraints based on youtube videos I have watch to no luck. Is this even possible?

[Anonymous]

Hey,

See if attached is what you are after. I did as below:

1- Changed all items horizontal.

2- Made a block out of connection items.

3- Made a circle at the point I wanted to put grip and constrained connection block in that point to centre of that circle.

4- Created stretch action on a linear parameter stretching the mentioned circle and top of the long leg.

5- from here on I added constrains and kept testing to see what happened step by step.

You can work it out what I did but if you need to know exactly what were the rest of steps I can explain on Monday. Just let me know.

Please test the block and advise if this is what you want or if you need to change anything.

Cheers,

Behzad

 

[Anonymous]

Hi! 

That is very close. But instead of the panel being rotated. I would like to rotate the roof down with the point of rotation on the bracket below you circled.

Is there a way to adjust the angle instead of the height? I am going to see if i can change it based on what you give me.

[Anonymous]

Hey again, this is what i got so far. I cant seem to make the leg stretch. Do i need to add a parameter for it?

[Anonymous]

Hey,

One question before I get on to it more,

Do you want to keep the horizontal distance between 2 legs constant?

You know, as you turn the roof down, if you keep 2 legs apart constantly, the distance between connecting points on the roof will gain.

Let me know 😉

Cheers,

[Anonymous]

leg distance on roof does not matter. On the first one you did, the connectors slid on the panel. I tried to mimic that so it did it on the roof but I had no luck.

[Anonymous]

Hi again,

Sorry for late reply. Had a busy day.

See attached and check if this is what you want.

I got to go to bed. If you want the steps of the creation, please let me know I will provide later.

When a dynamic block finally acts as you want you lean back and put your hands behind your head! It may not be what you wanted but it is what I understood from your explanations. Even the first one I posted was what I thought you want and I was glad I made it act like that 😉

However, if you need it some other way, sorry for misunderstanding and explain more what you want 🙂

Cheers,

Behzad

[Anonymous]

Thank you! this is exactly what I was looking for. After seeing what you used, it seems so easy now. If you have time could you provide me with the steps? Although I think I can recreate this. Thanks!

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Christopher,

I am glad it is what you wanted. 

Sure I just recreate the block and write steps that sorts out the block behaviour.

-Deleted existing constrains

-Made a block out of roof and add it to rotation action. because I want to later on constrain things to it. if it is made of lines I have to put many constrains to keep the roof as it is.

-Coincident, clicked on one of the circles of right bottom connector to pic the centre of it, enter (to go to option of selecting object), selected the vertical guide line

-Coincident, clicked on one of the circles of right bottom connector to pic the centre of it, enter (to go to option of selecting object), selected the horizontal guide line

-Fix constrain the top point of the vertical guide

-Vertical constrain the vertical guide

-created 2 circle guides on top and btm of leg

-3 tangent constrains and 1 perpendicular constrain for each top and btm of leg

-Fix Constrain the top circle to top of the guide line

-Concentric the btm circle to one of circles of btm connector

-Coincident, clicked on one of the circles of right bottom connector to pic the centre of it, enter (to go to option of selecting object), selected the vertical guide line

-last step, Parallel constrain hor guide to one hor line of roof

-Fix end point of hor guide at left connector end.

This is up to last block I posted. But there is a bit of issue. See picture below. To fix it I just added another parallel constrain a hor line of right btm connector to hor guide. Error fixed.

Please go to top right of the post you chose as solution, the option, and choose "not the solution. Then choose this post as the solution so the other users can trac and see the right block.

I hope it is clear what I wrore. you can recreate your block using the fresh one and see what happens.

Cheers,

Behzad

[Anonymous]

Thanks for fixing the solution post 🙂

[cmartin5ZBQE]

Greetings, everyone. I've read this post, and am impressed with the solution that was found. And at the moment, I've got what seems to be a similar problem on a simpler amount of elements (no offense to anyone), that I just can't properly clear up. To begin, I apologize if this turns out to be the wrong thread to post in, but here goes.

I draft electrical, and below is a picture of a dynamic block I'm making of a timer switch:

I have two Flip Actions here. One flips the paddle from open (base position) to closed. The other flips the 90-degree arrow polyline from pointing up (base) to down. When the block is in its basic state, it is Normally Open with Time Delay Close; the vertical line ends up intersecting the paddle line and touches the tip of the arrowhead.

These are what I want the block to keep constant:

a) the circles do not move at all.

b) the vertical line is centered between the circles.

All I would like to happen is to set up parameters and or constraints to do two things to only the vertical line:

A) the top end of the vertical line must always touch the paddle (not at the midpoint), no matter the flip state of the switch, and...

B) the bottom end of the vertical line must meet the tip of the arrowhead, no matter the flip state of the head.

In previous attempts to constrain, I had three consistent problems that I could not get around:

1) keeping the line vertical compared to the circles would move the circles.

2) Coincident constrain the vertical line top to connect to the paddle would either move the paddle (a matter of the order of selecting items/points) or slide the vertical line over towards the left side circle.

3) Coincident constrain the vertical line bottom to the arrowhead tip would distort the arrowhead.

I've attached the block itself for anyone to experiment with. All help is appreciated, with much thanks.

Chris Martin

[Anonymous]

oh boy this is an old thread of mine. I learned a lot thanks to other people so I will give it a try. Is this what you want? I basically applied the same principle as what my original problem was. I created some transparent lines that are fixed. then used collinear and coincident on the invisible lines to constrain it. i also used coincident to constrain the bar to the center of the circle and fixed the circle in place. then just applied a rotating action so you can move the bar however you want. alternatively you can create 2 of the same thing inside the block and just have visibility states for on and off.

[Libbya]

I wouldn't use constraints for what you are trying to do.  In the following screencast I show two different ways to do what you are asking for.  The first version is simpler, but the paddle line length is not exactly the same.  I doubt anyone would notice the difference, though.  The second way is more complicated, but the paddle length is the same length in either state.  

[cmartin5ZBQE]

Dear Christopher.cao.1991, thank you for your time and attempt. It is a good starting point, but not quite what I was looking for. I see the value in the way you parametered it so the vertical line length did reach the paddle, but I would like to restrict the ability for any CADD operator (myself included) to rotate the paddle higher than tangent to the right contact circle. And from this, I'd also have to work on the bottom end of the vertical line when I have to flip the arrowhead.

Please have a good day, and thanks again.

Chris Martin

[Libbya]

It sounds like the screencast I posted does exactly what you want in two different ways and it also sounds like you didn't even bother to watch it.  Interesting.  

[cmartin5ZBQE]

Dear libbya, please don't take any insult. For some reason, my replies had been going into my spam folder, and I didn't know I got them until when I left work Friday. I only began checking out the replies I got from both of you this morning, and only started to experiment with his first. I had been watching your screencast, and am currently trying to recreate your efforts. I had, and still have every intention of thanking you as I worked with your solutions this morning.

Please have a good day.

[Libbya]

Here's one more version.  I think I like this best.  It is a simple solution that only involves a chained point to stretch the vertical line and a chained polar to rotate the paddle.  

[cmartin5ZBQE]

Dear libbya, please pardon my delay in properly acknowledging your effort. You have done very well, and I am grateful. I've been watching the three methods on the two screencasts over and over. My problem now is recreating your work (and I agree that I think the third and most recent method is best for the paddle). But I am finding it hard to follow because the screencasts were going very fast for me.

Your third method rotates the paddle and stretches the vertical line. If I combine that with your first method's work for the arrowhead flip, that'll create what I wished to do. Thank you so very much.

Chris Martin

[Libbya]

You might not have noticed that you can set the playback speed to 1/2.  Other things that can make the screencasts more user-friendly are to make them fullscreen and pause often.  I understand it can still be a challenge sometimes to follow every step but despite that, I believe it is the best way to convey information on this forum.  If you have questions about any of the steps, let me know.

[cmartin5ZBQE]

Dear libbya, thank you so much. Is there any program that I would need to create my own screencasts, and/or any computer accessories? I admit that this is my first encounter with the screencasts.

Thank to you, I recreated the Timer Switch. I used your third method of the polar stretch on the paddle with the first method for the arrowhead, and then I hid away the parameter properties and set up a lookup table from your 2nd method. That way, future CADDers in my company (as well as myself) only have to worry about the symbol type without having to separately tweak parameters and actions. I've attached my new block for your review. I couldn't have done it without you and your casts. So, I guess one question I should ask for the future is this: when should I use parameters, and when should I use constraints?

Take care, and have a good day.

Chris Martin