Equation confusion

paul_bartlett

Neil Cooke redid did one of my projects and used Configurations which I have come to like a lot. He used these equations which I haven't seen before, can anyone explain how it works. It looks like it changes dimension or others into a 1 entity  and it can be controlled by a quantity number 
What is the (x) in the equation mean. The reference is in sketch 1.

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/5cf4172903e955c79db77c3c/w/cc01f0c427133ecefd0ac5da/e/a99e926d639e3febd3780109

number. Wha

john_mcclary

The "X" is just an icon to let you know it is a variable in the feature tree.
You will reference these variables in dimensions or features by using the name with a # in front of it ... example:    #Rotations*2

He has those variables "rotation" and "Blocks" set to a configuration. So you shouldn't modify them directly.
Instead modify them through the configurations tab (circled in green)



I'm not sure why he has this check set to 1, as that fails the pattern.. unless for any value where blocks is fewer than 5 he doesn't want that pattern to calculate? I'm sure that should read "#Blocks < 5 ? 2 : #Blocks"

john_mcclary

The "X" is just an icon to let you know it is a variable in the feature tree.
You will reference these variables in dimensions or features by using the name with a # in front of it ... example:    #Rotations*2

He has those variables "rotation" and "Blocks" set to a configuration. So you shouldn't modify them directly.
Instead modify them through the configurations tab (circled in green)



I'm not sure why he has this check set to 1, as that fails the pattern.. unless for any value where blocks is fewer than 5 he doesn't want that pattern to calculate? I'm sure that should read "#Blocks < 5 ? 2 : #Blocks"

NeilCooke

@john_mcclary yes I want the pattern to fail (when yellow blocks is 5, there are only 4 black blocks, but when less than 5 there are 8).

john_mcclary

NeilCooke said:

@john_mcclary yes I want the pattern to fail (when yellow blocks is 5, there are only 4 black blocks, but when less than 5 there are 8).

Forgive me if I am naive, but wouldn't it be better to set an additional suppression configuration based on that result. Rather than letting it fail?
Seems to me having red on the tree could have unintended consequences on later features.
I know Onshape handles failed features differently than SW, but it's always been taboo to have a red tree.

NeilCooke

Unfortunately we can’t suppress by equation yet so I had no choice but to fail the feature. 

NeilCooke

Although yes I could have had an extra column in the config. Just being lazy I guess!

john_mcclary

Understood    It was just a quick and dirty example for him to refine. I just thought it was weird to allow a red feature on purpose, especially from an Onshape employee, unless there was truly no harm in it.

john_mcclary

So, equation driven suppression IR anyone?

MBartlett21

@john_mcclary
+1