Mathematical functions for curves in sketch

Is there a way to use mathematical functions for curves used in sketch to
describe cross section of a part? For example, square without one straight
edge (eg. top one), but curve that would have some mathematical function (y
= - x*x ; if coordinate system positioned on the vertical axe of square; y
is oriented vertical up, x horizontal; )?

Is it possible to state some mathematical function for curve in sketch and
then use part of it for a sketch of a part?

Thanks in advance.

Best regards.

 

The one that comes to mind based on your post is to use Insert> curve>
Curve through XYZ points, then browse to a file created by Excel or
whatever that delivers a dataset from the calculation that you are
running.
Keep in mind that equations in SWx can do a lot, or simple sketch
relations (if you really know your trig) can pull off amazing things,
and I would suggest that you look at those with a creative eye -
especialy simple sketch relations, which I have seen underutilized so
many times.
But based on the vague request - the "for instance..." I suspect that
importing a dataset to use with "curve through XYZ points" is what you
want.
Good luck, and let us know if this doesn't work so you can come back
with a more specific problem -with more detail - for us to comment on.
Ed

 

A mathematical function has at most one value for Y for each value of X.
Your "curve" would also have non-continuous derivatives at the "corners"
and thus could not be represented by a polynomial, such as a NURBS curve.
Now, there are things called step functions and other series approximations
(such as Fouier series) but ...

 

If all you need is a parabola (y = ax^2 + bX + c), SW has a parabola
entity in the sketch entities menu. Draw and constrain accordingly.

 

This comes to mind. A simple macro. You do the math. If you want 3D
use a 3D spline. Paste the text below into an empty macro.

TOP

Option Explicit

'
******************************************************************************
' macro recorded on 12/26/07 by kellnerp
'
******************************************************************************
Dim swApp As Object
Dim Part As Object
Dim boolstatus As Boolean
Dim longstatus As Long, longwarnings As Long
Dim FeatureData As Object
Dim Feature As Object
Dim Component As Object
Sub main()

Set swApp = Application.SldWorks

Set Part = swApp.ActiveDoc
boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID("Front Plane", "PLANE", 0, 0,
0, False, 0, Nothing)
boolstatus = Part.Extension.SelectByID("Front Plane", "PLANE", 0, 0,
0, False, 0, Nothing)
Part.InsertSketch2 True
Part.ClearSelection2 True

Dim x0, xn, a, b, c As Double
Dim x(20), y(20) As Double
Dim i As Long

x0 = 0#
xn = 1#
a = 2#
b = 2#
c = 2#

'y=ax^2+bx+c

For i = 0 To 20
x(i) = x0 + (xn - x0) / 20 * i
y(i) = a * x(i) * x(i) + b * x(i) + c
Part.SketchSpline 20 - i, x(i) * 0.0254, y(i) * 0.0254, 0
Next i

Part.ClearSelection2 True
Part.InsertSketch2 True
End Sub

 

I wrote this macro a little while ago to do pretty much this. You'll
need Excel to use it.
http://members.cox.net/takedown/FuncPlot.zip