Parametric Array Issue

[depps]

Hey...I'm working on a parametric line-based array for a length of a conveyor to be used in a 2-click length format.

Everything flexes fine except for the height of the legs...the first one works before I insert the array, but once the array is made and the legs become 'grouped', the connection to the reference plane they were originally attached to fails and I have to remove the constraint. If I make it an array of 2 and go in and reconnect each to the RP it still gives an error.

I've even tried disconnecting the legs from the rest of the RP's and giving them their own height parameter to match that of the conveyor...it seems as though just the fact that they are in a array is breaking their ability to hold a height parameter

Any thoughts why this might be happening? 

[ToanDN]

Can you share the family?

[depps]

Yes...it's generic enough...would email work?

[ToanDN]

Why not attach it here so more folks can look at it?

[depps]

There we go. I changed the height of the 2 leg arrays so you can see right away that it's disconnected.

[barthbradley]

Arrays won't work that way. Nest the legs in and control there length via a length parameter.  Only lock one end of the leg and drive its length via a parameter.  We can show you, if you want to post your family. 

[ToanDN]

It is better to create the leg as a separate family, nest it in your family, and associate the parameters. Then array.

Here is a fix without a nested family.  You need to associate the extrusion height with the height parameter before array it.

[depps]

That's the direction I was going next...I felt like there had to be something I was doing wrong with how I was doing it. I linked the family above if you'd like to take a crack at it.

[barthbradley]

Really pretty simple. Just create your leg as a separate family and drive its height with a labeled dimension. Nest it into the project and align and lock its base to the Ref. Line workplane and then associate its height parameter to a parameter in the host. Array just as you did before.  Should work like a charm. 

...may even want to make it a shared nest family so you can pull leg count into a schedule.  Just a thought. 

[depps]

Is that any different from locking the top to a RP and labeling the height distance with that parameter?

[ToanDN]

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@depps wrote:

Is that any different from locking the top to a RP and labeling the height distance with that parameter?

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It doesn't make a different until you array the extrusion.  Copied instances lose the constraint.

[depps]

Got it...so the correct way if ever arraying in this way is to go in an associate it that way prior to arraying...not locking to a RP directly?

[barthbradley]

FWIW 

[depps]

So I may be back around to needing to use the nested family anyway...I have the height parameter working now, but I was flexing other things and the leg width breaks after the array as well.

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

Well, good luck.  Hope it works consistently for you.  Just letting you know its problamatic not doing it as a nested family.

[depps]

Thanks for the help.

[barthbradley]

No prob.  

hint, hint: I'm collecting lil' green check marks

[BMillarBCG25]

I understand the issue has been solved but I'll add,

Group the Extrusion/Sweep with RP and then array it.