Updating Dimensional Constraint

In this Task

• Variable names and values will be updated.
• These updates will automatically be shown in the sketch.

Associated Tasks

• Updating various values in the Variables palette to experiment with new designs.

 

Before you Start

• Do not create Variable names with spaces or special characters such as diameter symbols.

 

Take Note

• Dimensional constraints will only be shown in the Variables palette if the Auto Constraint was activated when the dimensions were inserted.
• Menu options for the Default menu and workspace, the Ribbon and Palettes are provided directly under the Command Name heading.

 

Updating Dimensional Constraints

Tools | Palettes | Calculator Palette

Dimensional constraints are updated in the Variables palette.Any geometrically constrained object associated to a dimensional constraint will be updated.

 

Changing the Variable Name

The name of a constraint is changed in the Variables palette to better associate it with its object. For example, the variable shown as Var1 below and associated to the dimension shown circled will be renamed Length.

Var1 associated to circled dimension. Name will be changed to ‘Length’

 

Double click onto the Variable name Var1 in the Variables palette and change the name to Length, shown below.

Repeat this, renaming the Variable names so that the result is similar to the illustration below. Make sure the variable value corresponds to the variable name. For example, it would be impractical to name the ‘Width’ dimension ‘Rad’

Variable Names changed

Updating the Variable Value

By updating the variable value in the Variables palette, the associated dimension automatically updates in the drawing.

For example, in the illustration below, the Length dimension will be changed to 120 and the Width dimension will be changed to 25.

The result is shown below.

Variables updated. Sketch automatically updates.

Both outer Radii were constrained to be of equal radius. By changing the associated variable (Rad) in the Variables palette, both outer radii will update.

In the example below, the outer radii have been changed to 15.

Both outer radii change to 15

Similarly, the inner circles were constrained to be of equal size. By changing the Dia variable, both circles will update and remain concentric to the outer arcs, shown below.

Inner circles changed to a diameter of 15. Concentricity with outer arcs is maintained.

Experiment with multiple design options similar to those shown below.