Using a variable studio to drive assembly-level configurations

ev_menegas

Hello to all,

I am relatively new to the On Shape platform.
Lately I 've been experimenting with the master model workflow (as described here) and I have reached a point where I am not sure if what I'm trying to do is possible.

The goal is to make a (simple) sheet-metal control cabinet (an electrical panel), which will have:
a) configurable basic dimensions (height-width-depth)
b) configurable features (e.g. hinges on the door), in relation with its dimensions and user input


I started with a single part studio (P-std) where I used a sketch and extruded a box, with the intension to derive it to other part studios to drive the dimensions of the body, door, feature positions etc.
I also created a variable studio in order to write all the variables in one place, shared to all subsequent part studios and the main assembly.

So in one P-std I have a sketch and an extrusion ("space allocation") with Height-Width-Depth linked to variables in V-std.
In another P-std I have the panel body. With a derived "space allocation" body I drive an extrusion which converts to a sheet metal model. Holes and mates for standard parts (eg hinges, latches) are also constrained and calculated via sketched defined on the derived body and variables in V-std.
The same with the panel door in another P-std.

Now to configure them all together.

Question 1:
Is there a way to link configuration inputs with variables from the V-std ? I know the way to do so with part-studio-specific variables, but I cannot find the way for the global variables.

Question 2:
As far as I understand, to make assembly-level configurations, one must first do part-level configurations and then assign them to the corresponding general config at the assembly.
This seems like a great amount of work.
Furthermore, the master model and multiple part studios approach seems to be unsuitable for this purpose. Configuration inputs of the same variables will have to be created in every P-std.
Would there be an easier way to achieve this, am I missing something in my approach?

Question 3:
Something a little more straightforward: I can think of two ways to make the door opening side configurable (hinge holes and mate connectors placement).
a) make holes and add mate connectors on both sides and configure the suppression state of left-right accordingly
b) make one sketch in the middle of the panel and constrain holes-mates-dimensions to it, the associate the sketch to an offset plane and configure its direction with a true/false variable or a +1/-1 variable.
The former is more time consuming, with a large amount of features on the tree - but relatively easy to implement.
The latter is more generic with the dimensions and holes I think, but the mates' primary axis orientation will need to be added to the configurations also - which makes it quite harder to do correctly.
According to your experience which would be the way to go? Which would be easier/faster for On Shape to solve?

I attach the LINK to the document in question

Thanks in advance for your input,
Ev

MichaelPascoe

Question 1:

Is there a way to link configuration inputs with variables from the V-std ? I know the way to do so with part-studio-specific variables, but I cannot find the way for the global variables.

I'm not sure of a way to do this. Here is an improvement request that may be related. You can vote on if you like: 
Driven Variables in Variable Studio - Improvement Request


Question 2:

As far as I understand, to make assembly-level configurations, one must first do part-level configurations and then assign them to the corresponding general config at the assembly.
This seems like a great amount of work.
Furthermore, the master model and multiple part studios approach seems to be unsuitable for this purpose. Configuration inputs of the same variables will have to be created in every P-std.
Would there be an easier way to achieve this, am I missing something in my approach?

As far as I know, this is currently the best way. I was unable to find the specific improvement request for this, so I created one:
Assembly: Inherit studio configurations - Improvement Request


Question 3:

Something a little more straightforward: I can think of two ways to make the door opening side configurable (hinge holes and mate connectors placement).
a) make holes and add mate connectors on both sides and configure the suppression state of left-right accordingly
b) make one sketch in the middle of the panel and constrain holes-mates-dimensions to it, the associate the sketch to an offset plane and configure its direction with a true/false variable or a +1/-1 variable.
The former is more time consuming, with a large amount of features on the tree - but relatively easy to implement.
The latter is more generic with the dimensions and holes I think, but the mates' primary axis orientation will need to be added to the configurations also - which makes it quite harder to do correctly.
According to your experience which would be the way to go? Which would be easier/faster for On Shape to solve?

For this, you could use the Mirror feature. Mirror the door in the direction you want and delete the old door. Or, you could create template parts that are to be used as boolean tools for removing material from the door, then mirror those parts so that the door references never change.

Also, the Hinge custom feature might be useful here.

ev_menegas

Hello Michael,

Thanks for all the info.

I've look into your custom feature; nice.