Inserting Components into New Design ignores parameters

[Anonymous]

In my current project, I am designing a bunch of components that I will want to CNC.

I designed all the components within their own design. I am now inserting them into a new design that will be the all the components laid out as they will be cut by the CNC router. When I'm inserting the components I am using parameters to align them to the safe cutting area as well as control the gap between components.

While the components are being placed correctly via the parameters I'm using, when I adjust the parameters, the components do not move.

How do I make sure the components being inserted adhere to the parameters of the design I'm inserting them into?

[tyler_henderson]

Hi Lee,

Let me make sure I understand the situation:

Let's call one of the individual components "DesignA", and let's use "DesignB" for the design where you insert and layout all of the individual components.

So, I think you have User Parameters in DesignA, then when you insert DesignA into DesignB, you want to create dimensions that reference the user parameters from DesignA, and those dimensions define the position of DesignA inside DesignB  Then you open DesignA and modify one of the user parameters, and you expect the dimension in DesignB to update with the change you made in DesignA.

Is this correct?

[Anonymous]

Close but not quite.

I'm inserting component DesignA into DesignB. I want to use a parameter in DesignB to represent the distance in between parts. Later on I want to be able to modify the parameter in DesignB and expect it to update accordingly.

[tyler_henderson]

Ok.  I just realized you are moving DesignA as soon as you insert it into DesignB.  Unfortunately, the Move command does not capture parameters.  It can use parameters to define the change in position, but it doesn't remember what parameters it used.  So when you use a parameter in the Move command, a change to that parameter will not cause the Move to update.

The best thing to use for this is Joints.  You can create a Joint between DesignA and some reference in DesignB (such as a work plane, work point, sketch geometry, etc.).  Or create a Joint between DesignA and some other inserted design.  Then use your parameter for an offset distance in the Joint.  The Joint offset will update when you change the Parameter value.

I hope this helps.

[laughingcreek]

The free move tool (the default) doesn't capture input parametrically, but the next 2 options do (see pic).

[tyler_henderson]

It does work for Bodies, but not Components.  When you move an inserted component (XRef) you can't select a Body, unfortunately.