Sheet metal flat length dimension for BOM property

One of the guys here (Tom Stock) finally figured out a good way to put a
flat length reference dimension in a sheet metal part and have it stay
accurate, without the hassle of adding a line that is equation driven.

1. In a sheet metal part, put in an unfold feature.
2. Then start a sketch on one of the faces.
3. In that sketch, insert a point at one of the corners, or put a
construction line at one end, or something - you have to have a sketch
entity.
4. Put a dimension from that entity to the other end of the part.
5. Exit the sketch.
6. Put in a fold feature.

Now, when you fill in the config specific properties, you can pick that
dimension for your length property, and it will update properly in the SW
BOM.

WT

 

Very cool! I can use this one. Remember to put the ""'s around the dim,
"D1@Sketch4" if you type it into custom props. If you pick it from the
graphics window it's automatic.

Thanks Wayne.

 

Gee Wayne. You should have axed me. I knew that. I don't know much
though, so don't axe hard questions.

 

Ahh, you are alive! Been lurking all this time? So, if you knew this one
all along, then why didn't you share it? I know, one of those "Oh, I
thought everyone knew that one....." That's why we are here.

WT

 

You can have a look at this posting that I just made on
comp.cad.solidworks:
http://groups.google.com/group/comp...d6b5d5a4a94/0c9bf1a46e311f47#0c9bf1a46e311f47

With regards,

Vinodh Kumar M.
www.swCP3.com