Plane along path - distance not a parameter?

[matt.soule]

It appears that while the 'plane along path' function within construct will accept a user parameter (variable) for the distance, but once entered it converts it to a constant value.  Changing the user parameter has no effect and returning to edit the distance shows that it is now a constant.  This is not the way 'plane at angle', for instance, works where the angle is truly a modifiable parameter.

The behavior is even more odd at closer examination.  If you look at the program constructed parameters each time the distance value is changed with edit feature, a new variable is assigned and the old one is left in place.  This may be why it is not using the user parameter - it is assigning another!

This is what I did

Created a sketch

Created a circle 

Exited sketch

Created plane along path

There is now one variable in the program created parameters

Edited the feature and entered a different distance

Now there are two variables in the program parameters

Made a user parameter

Edited the distance by entering my variable name

Now there are three program parameters and 1 user parameter

If I directly edit the last program parameter in change parameter it does indeed change the plane without creating another parameter

Something seems to be amiss.

[paul.clauss · Accepted solution]

Hi @matt.soule

Thanks for posting! It looks like you are experiencing some issues while editing the position of a plane along path in Fusion 360.

I was able to reproduce both behaviors you experienced! Firstly, the user parameter worked to initially define the position of the plane, but the position did not update when the user parameter was updated. 

I also noticed that you are correct in that each time a new distance/proportional decimal value was entered in the Plane Along Path dialogue, a new model parameter was created. It seems to me like this change should simply update the existing model parameter that was created when the Plane Along Path was initially constructed. I did, however, find that if you update the position of the plane through the most recently created model parameter in the Change Parameters dialogue that the behavior will work as expected. I have shown this in the screencast below.

As this behavior does seem counter-intuitive (I believe the user parameter should work and that the initial model parameter for the distance along the path should be updated from the Plane Along Path dialogue rather than being over-ridden by a new parameter) I have logged a report (FUS-31837) with our development team , who will continue looking into this issue. I will circle back here to provide an update when I have any new information to share.

Please let me know if you have any questions - we appreciate you bringing this issue to our attention!

[matt.soule]

Hi Paul

Thank you for the attention.  If the users don't take the time to point out issues, the software doesn't improve.  It's refreshing for a software company to take user comments so seriously.  BTW I have another case where a fillet wouldn't generate for no geometric reason I can see.  I would upload the example if your team would be interested and someone could tell me how to do that.  I see how to do screencasts and files but I have no access to the fusion 360 file.

Matt

[paul.clauss]

Hi @matt.soule

Thanks for the response - we appreciate your input!

I am happy to take a look at the fillet issue - please create a new forum thread for the new problem! I'm a little confused when you say "I have no access to the Fusion 360 file" - can you open the file in Fusion? Were you able to create the file but now cannot open or access it?

To share a Fusion 360 design, you may use any of the techniques described at this link. Please feel free to let me know if you have any questions - I'm happy to help!

[matt.soule]

Paul

I posted under

Fillet not being generated

I supplied a public shared link (I hope) in the post but here it is as well

http://a360.co/2nLWlpl

My confusion was that I was trying to attach the F360 file not understanding the way to let others see it was through the sharing process.

Thanks.

Matt

[keqingsong]

Hey matt.soule, this is getting fixed in the next update happening mid-late May! Thanks again for catching this bug. Keep being awesome. 

[brianP9KPV]

Apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but I have experienced this same odd behavior on the macOS client today. Constructing a plane on path with physical distance using a parameter works as expected.  Then modifying the parameter has no impact on the plane, which is not expected.

Version is reported as: 2.0.19994 arm64 [Native]

Edit: I replied to matt, but had intended to reply to @keqingsong