Offset work plane using equation value

Hi:

I am trying to place a workplane offset from another workplane using
an equation. Can you not just type the name of the variable in the
offset distance box when creating or editing the plane? I can't get it
to work this way. As an example, let's say I create an equation in the
form

"dist"=10

Can you not just type "dist" in the plane's offset entry box?

Thx

J

 

Go into your SolidWorks window, Control Grab the one of the 3
orthogonal planes you want and drag them and set or leave the default
distance.

Then go to Tools-Equations and set up for a New equation. Double
click that new plane and click the offset dimension, which will appear
in the equation editor followed by an equal sign, & next click the
origin plane you offset it from. That is it.

Bo

 

Actually, I steered you a bit wrong. You can assign the value of the
distance of the offset without an equation, by just doing the start of
what I noted above.

It is when you want that distance to be calculated using other
variables that you need the equation.

Bo

 

OK, but is this the only way - you cant just type the name of a
variable in the dim box when you edit the plane?

thx

J

 

For calculated plane positions, when you click on a dimension, it is
added to the formula, and that is the only way I do it.

You can use a spreadsheet to drive a design, and that can contain
dimensions to control planes for families of parts, though I've not
had reason to do that myself.

Bo

 

I feel your pain. I have wished for this since I started using SW.
The way that Bo described is the simplest way to do this. Kind of ass
backwards, if you ask me, but there really isn't a good option. It
would be so handy to have an equation for something like wall
thickness, for example, be able to use that as an extrusion length, in
sketches, etc. and if a change is needed, make one change to the
equation, and the thickness changes everywhere. While this can be
done the SW way, AFAIK each place that it is used a new equation is
needed. Crappy and time consuming. They could certainly do better,
but it isn't flashy enough for the marketing guys I guess.

 

I may not be understanding correctly, but would linked values be of
any use?

 

Yup, that is a really handy quicker way of making A = B without going
to "write" an equation.

 

Interesting idea. I played with it a bit, and yes, it does work. If
I want and extrusion to be a particular length, I first create the
extrusion, then double click on the icon in the feature manager (not
the name), then double click on the dimension in the graphics window,
then click the little black arrow, then click on 'Link Value', then
click on the little black arrow in the popup window, then click on the
link name (assuming it already exists), then click on 'OK', and then
click the green checkmark. As opposed to just entering the name in
the original feature properties window (or better yet, a dropdown
list). If I count right, that's 10 extra mouse clicks just to link
one dimension. Not very productive. Or am I missing something easier?

 

Ed, when in a sketch, just select two dimensions, right click and
select LINK. That is it.

Bo