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Configuration variables vs configurations?
Is there a way to build a part studio using configuration variables, and then have a list of configurations to choose from (not an infinite variety)?
For example, let's say I have a part called "box" which is simple cube extrusion. I set the #sideLength as a configuration variable with a default of 50mm and a range of 10mm to 100mm. Then I want to have a "small", "medium" and "large" sizes (let's say 10mm, 30mm, and 90mm for #sideLength).
Other than going back in and getting rid of the configuration variable and just configuring a regular variable, is there a way to do this? I like the flexibility of configuration variables, but I also like the idea of having a simple list of configs to choose from. Is this something I can do with a derived part?
For example, let's say I have a part called "box" which is simple cube extrusion. I set the #sideLength as a configuration variable with a default of 50mm and a range of 10mm to 100mm. Then I want to have a "small", "medium" and "large" sizes (let's say 10mm, 30mm, and 90mm for #sideLength).
Other than going back in and getting rid of the configuration variable and just configuring a regular variable, is there a way to do this? I like the flexibility of configuration variables, but I also like the idea of having a simple list of configs to choose from. Is this something I can do with a derived part?
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The best way I have found is to create a second part studio and "derive" the first one, then configure some lists that have specific values for the config variables. The nice thing too is that it can help with revision management (or even avoid having to create versions) by having this one configurable model used to create a set of "standard" parts where you don't need to modify the master to create a new "standard" one.
Here's an example I created a while back with different way to "narrow down" the configuration options of such a "master" model (see "standard sizes" part studio that's basically your use case):
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/d2d3382aa18189471db96624/w/bfdb4819bc7e743e462a92ad/e/257db9494bc229d5216ec85f
THANK YOU. I was about to try derived models as my next step to see if this is indeed how it works. Your example makes the power and flexibility of this very clear.
I have to say that configurations in Onshape are incredibly powerful in ways that I haven't seen in other CAD systems. Maybe I haven't investigating the alternatives enough recently.
And yes this works very well and we have used it successfully a number of times for things like:
- Pop rivets we have a master model and then derive that in to create different sizes that we can show in the both "unformed" and installed (in different thickness materials).
- Families of electrical terminal blocks/headers etc.
- Rubber grommets instead of downloading a various STEP files
- Electrical contacts like ring or fork terminals
- Etc
My biggest complaints with configurations in Onshape are the fact that you can't make two configurations of something appear as a single item (in BOMs of for releases), and the fact you can't prevent "incompatible" combinations of inputs. Other than that it quite flexible and really easy to use (and maintain, which was always a huge pain in SolidWorks where you spend half your time having to double check and fix broken configurations...)
That being said if you care about the order of the configuration parameters, moving them up and down the list can be annoying if you create a new parameter in the template and need to add a parameter to multiple configurations. This became so much of a pain point that we actually developed JS code that we can copy and paste into the console in the inspector and with some tweaking, will move the config parameters using a programmatic loop.
I ended up doing a user group presentation on some of the powerful hidden functionality of configurations, maybe I should make a YouTube video on it sometime.
chadstoltzfus@premiercb.com
onshape needs to incorporate this post / example into there configurations tutorials.
This means that the trail of breadcrumbs from a top-level assembly goes through these clean, simple part studios (with a single part) down to the messy, configured, multi-body design Part Studio.
Also much easier to move parts / tabs / drawings in & out of documents, since they already live in their own tab.
You'll need to add any sketches you want in your drawings to the single part studio tab (since they won't show up in a drawing even if you derive them in to the part studio).