Create related components without relying on projections too much

[mukhopadhyaysayak]

Hi all

I am trying to model an item consisting of multiple components. What is the best way to create a component with related dimensions as another component?

I have been using projections but the amount of times they break whenever the projected component is changed makes me tired.

Using parameters is another way and am using them in some cases but there are other situations where the dimension I need is driven by other geometry and can't really be user defined. Since as of right now, driven dimensions cannot be used across sketches, that's also something that I am unable to do.

How does the community handle such a situation?

[g-andresen]

Hi,

1.Without an insight into the file, references are not possible.

2. What is your goal?
Do you want "similar" components with different dimensions?

please share the file 

File > export > save as f3d on local drive > attach to post

günther

[mukhopadhyaysayak]

Sure, I have attached a part of my design that shows the issue. My question can be easily described by the screenshot below.

As you can see, I am creating a sketch in a new component and this sketch depends on the features of another component. In this case, I am using a projection to derive on that feature but as mentioned in the OP, if I bevel the edge in the "Base" component that is projected, the projections in this sketch will break, which starts a long chain of stuff that will break which is a pain to fix.

I am wondering if there is a better workflow other than creating a projection that I might be missing.

[mukhopadhyaysayak]

I have been thinking if I should have something like a master 3d sketch that defines all the features and then create features off that sketch so that there is no need to project from a feature. But 3d sketches have their oddities like not being able to constrain and being a pain in general.

The other idea that I have is to project from another sketch and not from the solid feature.

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

Use the BORN Technique as much as possible and practical.

The Origin is generally my single source of reference. (Some features can be offset from origin plane.)

I rarely Project geometry edges - if not practical to only reference the Origin, then I will opt to Project sketch geometry rather than solid or surface edge geometry (and even less preference to projecting Face geometry).

I tend to not repeat dimensions...

I can have some fairly complex designs that all features can be removed and nearly all the information for the design is in the sketches and no sick sketches.

[mukhopadhyaysayak]

Yeah, I am realizing that I should rely on other sketches more instead of solid profiles. Still, I have situations like below

In this situation, I need to centre the sketch vertically in the face and since the face has beveled edges, I need to project the edge (in purple). Now, if I later go back and decide to bevel the projected edge, the sketch will break. One way, I can handle this by making the bevel amounts user parameters and then calculating the dimensions in the sketch. More so as the upper bevel is different from the lower bevel. Any ideas how to handle these situations?