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Need to use a variable to define the entity count of a linear sketch pattern

neobobkrauseneobobkrause Member Posts: 105 EDU
The pattern constraint on a sketch can accept a numeric entity count value. However it won't accept a value based on a variable reference.

It might also be worth mentioning that I was able to use a variable reference to define the entity count of a linear shape pattern.

Comments

  • _Ðave__Ðave_ Member, Developers Posts: 712 ✭✭✭✭
    This is a good use for variables, hope it gets fixed soon.
  • neobobkrauseneobobkrause Member Posts: 105 EDU
    Interestingly, the entity count of the constraint can take an expression. For example, 'round(100)' is accepted, yet 'round(#repeats)' is flagged as an invalid expression.
  • neobobkrauseneobobkrause Member Posts: 105 EDU
    edited January 2016
    Wah? I tried again this morning to use a variable reference in the definition of the entity count of a linear sketch pattern -- and it worked! Is it possible that the OnShape team really responds THAT quickly? Well done.

    Wait, what happened? The variable value was 5. When I entered the variable reference the entity count of the pattern changed to 5. But when I looked at the entity count definition I found a hard-coded value of 5. Use of a variable reference now back to generating an error. Investigating further.
  • thomas_kozakthomas_kozak Member Posts: 38 ✭✭
    I've asked about this previously and it is being looked at.  As you observed, you can currently create the pattern with a variable but it resets it to a hard-coded number and won't accept the variable after that.

    The workaround I was pointed to is to do any patterning as a feature rather than in the sketch.  In my case I was doing a variable-defined number of slots around an axis.  Using Face Pattern it's possible to set this to a variable.

    I agree that this needs to work in sketches as well.
  • noland_germainnoland_germain Member Posts: 2 ✭✭
    Any word on when this will be fixed? Very frustrating. The feature workaround is useless and/or extremely awkward in many use cases.
  • nathan_argetsingernathan_argetsinger Member Posts: 2
    I'm in the same boat.  Onshape was *very close* to being the perfect parametric generator for laser cutter templates requiring nested tessellations of patterns to share with my team.  Would very much be willing to implement this myself - the core
  • nicola_orlandonicola_orlando Member Posts: 2
    Hi, I've just had this exact same issue six years later? Wasn't this being looked at?
  • NeilCookeNeilCooke Moderator, Onshape Employees Posts: 5,307
    No, it is not.
    Senior Director, Technical Services, EMEAI
  • neobobkrauseneobobkrause Member Posts: 105 EDU
    NeilCooke said:
    No, it is not.

    Ouch!
  • michael_unger759michael_unger759 Member Posts: 3
    oh ... i dind´t realise that this problem is that old ;) ... maybe there will be an answer soon ;)
  • mahirmahir Member, Developers Posts: 1,291 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited August 2022
    In this thread @kevin_o_toole_1 gives a good explanation why it's not a small effort to add this capability. 
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