Driving Design Tables from an Assembly

Hi,

I'm a novice with 2003 - I would like to drive a dimension in a part
design table from a dimension derived from an equation in a master
assembly.

For example take a simple gusset

My part design has a number of configurations for thickness, width,
length, suppressed/unsuppressed end conditions. I would like to drive
the length dimension in this DT from a reference dimension from
another part.

Currently, I have an equation at the assembly level which equates this
dimension to the reference dimension in the part. However, the DT
changes the dimension for ALL of the parts, so that other references
for a part at the assembly level lose their length dimension.

Do I need to create $configurations? This seems unreasonalbe because I
would need to create a configuration for each instance and eliminate
the benefit of the table.

Can I refer to other parts in a DT? ie have a dimensional equation
such as:

=dim1 @ sketch1 @ part1 or whatever the proper construct is.

Thanks for your help.

MMW
NH, USA

 

I'm trying to develop a automated configurator for a fabrication that
varies its geometry based on process conditions. A simple analogy
would be a rectangular tank that changes its size based on volume,
thruput and other operating conditions.

Ultimately, I'll drive a dimension sketch for each wall from these
variables and from these wall sketches, I'll need to drive the support
structure including quantity and size of gusset, location etc, size of
support pads for mounting, manhole location, overflow location, nozzle
size and location, and other parameters that are driven by the
geometry of the wall sketches/parts. Some of these are independent of
the geometry so they are not a problem but those with geometric
dependence need to be inter-related from each wall part/component.

Perhaps, I should do this another way, and I'll be glad to try
alternatives.

MMW
NH, USA