Reference configured features in configured part properties and/or parametric drawing notes?

Malcolm_Daniel

Any tricks for referencing configured features in configured part properties and/or parametric drawing notes?

Looking to parametrically reference the "Substrate Stock PN" below (configured feature) in a drawing note.  Only way I can think of is copy/paste that column into a configured part property column...but then it's not parametric i.e. if I change "Substrate Stock PN", it wouldn't update the configured part property.

Thanks,
Malcolm

Malcolm_Daniel

Here's the Improvement Request:  https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/12191/insert-configured-features-columns-into-notes-callouts

philip_thomas

@Malcolm_Daniel - you had me scratching my head for a moment!
Yes, it's totally doable



Here is a link to the document so that you can see how it's done.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/6d7599c90a79cea411afb675/w/9cfbdb054821e4b14728f010/e/eea77f4cd9b3f7977bf5fcd7

1) There exist configuration specific properties



2) Insert multiple configurations of the part into the drawing



At this point, there are three views (each of a different configuration) - BUT THE SHEET REFERENCE IS ONLY TO THE CONFIGURATION OF THE FIRST PART INSERTED.
This is the head scratcher - each sheet can only have 1 reference regardless of the number of different parts/assemblies/configurations referenced.



Inserting a note referencing a custom property will only insert the value of that property for the sheet-reference (not what you were looking for)



3) The correct way is use the Callout (balloon) tool as this points to a specific view (and hence configuration)






 

I hope this helps you

Malcolm_Daniel

Thanks for the response @philip_thomas ... this is slick, and kind of an extension of my question...but doesn't address my issue.  
What I'm trying to do is parametrically link the note to the configured FEATURE (not configured PROPERTY).  As I mentioned, I can copy/paste configured FEATURES to configured PROPERTIES (via spreadsheet in-between) for use in parametric notes or balloons...but then when I change the configured FEATURE I have to manually update the configured PROPERTY.

Got any other tricks up your sleeve for that one? 

philip_thomas

@Malcolm_Daniel - sorry for the whiff and miss.
We are trying to understand what you're trying to do.
In the absence of a document to look at, we are trying to figure out what "Substrate Stock PN" is? It appears to be some sort of configuration parameter. How is it defined? Is it a variable? Why is there an arrow to 'configured part properties'?
The most helpful would be a public document with your problem reduced to its simplest representation

Malcolm_Daniel

Since you can't seem to read my mind @philip_thomas , here's a public document as requested.  

Check out the notes on the two drawing tabs.  Let me know if you need more info.

In this example, the "Derived 1 Configuration" column/field/name in the "Finished Part" part studio is analogous to "Substrate Stock PN" in my real-world example.  Arrow to Configured Properties in original post indicates I want to be able to parametrically reference that configured feature (value of that column) in both Configured Properties and drawing notes.

Another way of thinking of this is a "make from" item (take stock part XYZ and modify it).

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/597c26021f533f1cb381dc50/w/1715d3554997e096ec56961a/e/71b9841cbc8ac2553c57ac53

philip_thomas

@Malcolm_Daniel - Hmm, this appears very simple (unless I have missed something).
I used the exact method described above

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5d5994909ce52f225aefed6a/w/6460e07babc439363f1d9fab/e/0b39f7b6ebe746215d83e0c1

Malcolm_Daniel

@philip_thomas ... you created a parametric note linked to the Configured Part Property "Product Line"...but that "Product Line" field is not linked to the actual "Derived 1 Configuration" value.  Unless I'm missing something, if you go into "finished part", Part 1 configuration and change the Derived Configuration from "Stock A" to "Stock B" ... your drawing note will still say "Make from Stock A" unless/until you go manually change the "Product Line" field as well.  I want everything parametrically linked to the actual drop-down selection of "Derived 1 Configuration" field/value.

philip_thomas

Malcolm, the boxes in the configuration tables are for setting values specific to the configuration.
There is no mechanism for those cells to read the values from somewhere else.

Malcolm_Daniel

Thanks for the confirmation.  And there's no way to parametrically access variables, configured feature values, or the like in drawing notes/fields?  If not, I'll file a feature request.  Seems it could work very similar to the drawing property and sheet property drop downs in note fields...have a 3rd drop down for columns from the configuration table.

     

philip_thomas

@Malcolm_Daniel - That is a very good enhancement request!!!!

Michael_Coffee

I have a similar situation, though with the drawing properties themselves and not a note. I currently have it where we have to type in the description for the "Material" (ex. 1/4" HRS or 4" X 4" X 1/4" ANGLE) in the part properties. It would be nice to link the drawing property to a configuration table where it lists the material you start with to make this part. Once you pick something, it generates in the drawing when you make it.

Malcolm_Daniel

Here's the Improvement Request:  https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/12191/insert-configured-features-columns-into-notes-callouts