Define specific distance between imported components/assemblies (Parametric)

[Hilleskog]

Hello, so I am working on a design/assembly in which I need to import components (Because I will model around them and do not want to re-create them every time I start from scratch). Since the assembly itself might need configuration later on I am trying to work with a parametric design. These imported assemblies (both consist of two components and a joint between the two components) need to have a certain distance between them which should be defined by a variable in the parameters window. So if I for starters set the distance between them to be X and after testing I might decide that X is to small and I need to increase it. I would then change the variable to the new value and have the other component increase its distance from the first component to the new value while still staying aligned to the first component. 

I first thought I might create a sketch line in the assembly which has the length of variable X and then import the components and place them on the endpoints of the line and make their position relative/lock to the endpoints of the line. But I have not figured out yet how to do this.

If anyone has any help/tips for me it would be much appreciated! 

Thank you and happy holidays!

[huszak.marcell]

Because constraints work only on sketches, i would make a body from that sketch line (for example a pipe) and than make a rigid group with the other two compontents.

I am not sure if I understand the problem correctly, I hope this helps.

[Hilleskog]

Thanks for the response but that did not seem to work. I defined the length of the "pipe" with a variable and then positioned my imported components correctly and made a rigid group of all three components. But when I changed the variable of the pipes length it only changed the pipe and the component on the other end stayed at the previous distance and did not move.

Thanks anyway! Sorry for cloudy explanation, not sure myself of how to correctly describe my problem 😛

[etfrench · Accepted solution]

Use Rigid Joints between the pipe and each component instead of a Rigid Group.  The components will move with to the new locations when the pipe length parameter is changed.

[Hilleskog]

Doing so was a pain in the ass, Shouldn't there be an easier way?

[laughingcreek · Accepted solution]

are you trying to do something like this?

[Hilleskog]

About exactly the same, except with imported components/assemblies! The thing is i need the lines endpoints to connect to the center inside a cylinder not the surface of the cylinder. The assemblies I wish to do this to already has joints in them and from what I have seen this might make trouble with additional joints between the assemblies?

[etfrench]

I don't think it's any harder than the method you used to put the components in their proper place to begin with You can create joint origins with sketch points and use offsets in the joint to move the actual location of the parts to anywhere you want. (This is only necessary if you can't use the same origin for multiple joints).

[Hilleskog]

This actually worked really well (for now)! Thank you friend!