Best workflow for using Canvas and multiple scale factors?

[wrewing001]

In a current project, we have a Canvas which contains various real world dimensions.

In our User Parameters, we have a scale parameter which we use when calibrating canvas.

We would like to be able to simply change the scale parameter and voila, our part is made to a different scale.  In Model Railroading Z scale is 220, N is 160, HO is 87 and O scale is 48 (reciprocal of scaling factor) .

Here the problems encountered:

1.   Usually, when you change a User Parameter, the effect is immediately seen in the design.  When we change our scale parameter, the calibration of the canvas is not changed, though we wish it was.

2. When you calibrate a canvas, chances are the origin position of the canvas changes.  We wish we could nail down the origin once and then be free to change the scaling of the canvas without shifting the origin.

Are we headed in the right direction?  Would it be easier to not worry about scale, but after completing a design, transform sizing with a scale ratio?  Is there such a command in F360?

[jeff_strater]

unfortunately, Canvas today is not fully parametric.  The Calibrate command is kind of a direct modeling, one time command to just get the Canvas the correct size.  That dimension is not remembered and does not create a parameter in the design.

Decal is slightly better behaved than Canvas, in that it is tied to a model face, not to a plane, and does tend to do better at position, but it, as well, does not scale to fit the face it is placed on.

So, unfortunately, you will likely have to manually edit your images, whether in Canvas or Decal, for each scale factor.