Hi all :-)
I'm quite new to SW and I used a bit Inventor in the past.
I'm designing a little series of product I would like to be parametric. The idea is to have all the model quotes on the edge of a finger and be able to change it dynamically from an excel file (the data table).
Obviously I'll use the Configuration to design my different "sizes".
Now the biggest problem I encounter is that seems that Solid Works only allow to use into the data tables quotes belonging to a sketch but it seems not possible to use a quote defined into a feature.
An example is a series of holes on a flange: I need to be able to decide how many holes have to be done but due to the fact I can't "see" the number of holes defined into the feature (I use a repetition of a single hole) i can't handle that easily.
Ok, I've done this by preparing many different function with all the quantity of holes I need and I activate, from the excel file, just the one I need for each size but:
- This is not so "clean" and logical from my point of view (it sound like a walk around, not a real method)
- There are situation I can't sort it out in this way, for example situation where I would like to automatically select the number of holes (I know I can do that using conditional function in excel but... again a walk around... and if the numbers of holes is not into the one I prepared??)
Another thing I can't understand how (and if it is possible) to be exposed into an excel sheet are the equations: it would be very useful to be able to define the value of a variable from the outside (the excel file) but again seems I can simply suppress or not the value of an equation (I didn't understood also the use of suppressing an equation that will do nothing if I do not use it.. or no?).
Latest, the equation seems not to be possible to be used inside the features. Mean if I want to make an extrusion long N mm and I have this N defined into an Equation I didn't find a way to make the feature "see" that Equation.
Ok, That's all, I hope someone of you already sorted out this problem or simply know how to do that. I've to say that the equation management into SW leaved me a bit surprised: when I used Inventor I simply used to write into the quote field the sign "=" and then recall directly the quotes or the equation I wanted... and if I'm not wrong there was no difference between the quotes into the sketches or into the functions.
Many thanks to anyone can help me in sort this problem out.
Sergio