2D Drawing with changing bodies - How to make dimensions follow?

nicolas_lagas_Sulzer

Hi all,

imagine a simple configured assembly. Part 1 is a cylinder length 25mm, second part is a rectangle length 50mm. Let's now create a configuration to toggle between one or another. They are both positioned similarly in space.
Now I create a side view 2D drawing, I am using one of the 2 configs to start with, for example cylinder. Im adding a dimension which shows the length, or 25mm. Now switching to rectangle, I want this dimension to show 50mm.

Obviously this is hard to do since the body changes.

I have tried to create some sort of hidden skeleton third body and play with display states and use that skeleton body to anchor dimensions rather than the 2 other bodies. The skeleton body would be driven by parameters linked to the configurations, hence the dimensions in 2D would always refer to the same part faces/edges. But this does not work.

I am sure i'm not the first one trying to do this.

What's the approach with OnShape?

Thanks

eric_pesty

I think your best bet if you don't want to "see" anything on the drawing is to create a sketch with points (and just points) that you can use to define dimensions on the drawing (i.e. configure it so the points are 25 or 50mm apart), then you should be able to show that sketch on the drawing, dimension to these points and then select "hide sketch points". I think this should work...