Building a full model with featurescript?

tim_hess427

Out of curiosity - does anybody here use featurescript to build "full models" rather than well... just features? I haven't really dug into featurescript myself, but plan on it when I have some time. I have found many custom features created by other users extremely useful, but I don't really know what I'd try to use it for myself. So, I'm just curious, and also maybe looking for a little bit of inspiration. 

Or, to put it another way. I see lots of custom features that automate repetitive things, or fill gaps that the development team hasn't gotten to yet. So, what are the things I could do with featurescript that can't be done with ANY CAD package?

konstantin_shiriazdanov

It's not too efficient building full models with FS generally, nowadays you can configure part studio and link it in any place in any configuration - just like feature call, but before standart content appeared I used "Cap screw FS" to generate fasteners for example, or I heard Airfoil FS was used to generate wing shapes.

>So, what are the things I could do with featurescript that can't be done with ANY CAD package?

Most of CAD's have automation instruments of different levels - macro, journals, API's. The difference of OS is that you can start using it only reading through not so big single level standard library documentation, there is no need to be a pro in application programming or spending years for learning API. Featurescript is a pretty friendly and compact instrument - it is the difference from my point.

tim_hess427

Thanks, @konstantin_shiriazdanov. That's helpful for putting it into perspective. 

Like I mentioned, I think its awesome and looking forward to jumping into it myself. 

ilya_baran

Here's a "full model" type approach that Kori, one of our software engineers, is using to design her house: https://www.onshape.com/cad-blog/exploring-the-power-of-custom-cad-features-for-furniture-first-design

tim_hess427

That's the kind of thing I was looking for! I love that she flipped the idea of a custom feature from "generic geometry feature" to "design intent feature". Even though she was still using really simple geometry, the "design language" as she put it is a lot easier to understand when inspecting the feature tree. I wish I could see some of the code that went into her scripts. 

ilya_baran

Yes, exactly!  The source is available here: https://forum.onshape.com/discussion/comment/56736/#Comment_56736