6.0
Table Of Contents
- Getting Started with Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop®
- Autodesk® Mechanical Desktop® Tutorials
- Using the Tutorials
- Creating Parametric Sketches
- Constraining Sketches
- Creating Sketched Features
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Sketched Features
- Creating Extruded Features
- Editing Extruded Features
- Creating Loft Features
- Editing Loft Features
- Creating Revolved Features
- Editing Revolved Features
- Creating Face Splits
- Editing Face Splits
- Creating Sweep Features
- Editing Sweep Features
- Creating Bend Features
- Editing Bend Features
- Creating Work Features
- Creating Placed Features
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Placed Features
- Creating Hole Features
- Creating Thread Features
- Editing Hole Features
- Editing Thread Features
- Creating Face Drafts
- Editing Face Drafts
- Creating Fillet Features
- Editing Fillet Features
- Creating Chamfer Features
- Editing Chamfer Features
- Creating Shell Features
- Editing Shell Features
- Creating Surface Cut Features
- Editing Surface Cut Features
- Creating Pattern Features
- Editing Pattern Features
- Editing Array Features
- Creating Copied Features
- Editing Copied Features
- Creating Combined Features
- Editing Combined Features
- Creating Part Splits
- Editing Part Splits
- Using Design Variables
- Creating Parts
- Creating Drawing Views
- Creating Shells
- Creating Table Driven Parts
- Assembling Parts
- Combining Parts
- Assembling Complex Models
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Complex Assemblies
- Starting the Assembly Process
- Creating Local and External Parts
- Applying Assembly Constraints
- Creating New Parts
- Creating Subassemblies
- Completing Assemblies
- Editing Mechanical Desktop Parts
- Reloading External References
- Reviewing Assembly Models
- Creating Bills of Material
- Finishing Drawings for Plotting
- Creating and Editing Surfaces
- Combining Parts and Surfaces
- Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Key Terms
- Basic Concepts of Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Surfacing Wireframe Models
- Creating Trimmed Planar Surfaces
- Joining Surfaces on Complex Shapes
- Creating Swept and Projected Surfaces
- Creating Complex Swept Surfaces
- Using Projection to Create Surfaces
- Using Advanced Surfacing Techniques
- Viewing Completed Surfaced Models
- Working with Standard Parts
- Creating Shafts
- Calculating Stress on 3D Parts
- Toolbar Icons
- Desktop Tools
- Part Modeling
- Part Modeling ‰ New Part
- Part Modeling ‰ New Sketch Plane
- Part Modeling ‰ 2D Sketching
- Part Modeling ‰ 2D Constraints
- Part Modeling ‰ Profile a Sketch
- Part Modeling ‰ Sketched Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Placed Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Work Features
- Part Modeling ‰ Power Dimensioning
- Part Modeling ‰ Edit Feature
- Part Modeling ‰ Update Part
- Part Modeling ‰ Part Visibility
- Part Modeling ‰ Options
- Toolbody Modeling
- Assembly Modeling
- Surface Modeling
- Surface Modeling ‰ AutoSurf Options
- Surface Modeling ‰ Swept Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Loft U Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Blended Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Flow Wires
- Surface Modeling ‰ Object Visibility
- Surface Modeling ‰ Surface Display
- Surface Modeling ‰ Stitches Surfaces
- Surface Modeling ‰ Grip Point Placement
- Surface Modeling ‰ Lengthen Surface
- Surface Modeling ‰ Extract Surface Loop
- Surface Modeling ‰ Edit Augmented Line
- Surface Modeling ‰ Wire Direction
- Scene
- Drawing Layout
- Mechanical View
- Index
Basic Concepts of Design Variables | 235
Basic Concepts of Design Variables
Parts and features are controlled by dimensions and other parameters that
define their shapes. By creating design variables and assigning them to these
parameters, you gain greater control over these values. There are two types of
design variables:
■ Global
■ Active part
You use global design variables when you want to control parameters that
belong to more than one part. When you want to control only a specific part,
you use active part design variables.
You can create design variables using the Design Variables dialog box, or you
can use the Equation Assistant dialog box to create design variables on the
fly as you are creating a part.
Design variables are also used in tables to control versions of a part. You learn
to create these tables in chapter 15, “Creating Table Driven Parts.”
This tutorial introduces design variables for controlling features. The tutorial
drawing file contains a helical sweep. For clarity, the sweep is represented by
four wires. The work features used to create the sweep are visible to help you
understand how it was created. Before you begin the tutorial, turn off the vis-
ibility of the work features, and set the number of wires to a lower value; this
increases the speed of recalculation and regeneration of the part.
Open the file helix1.dwg in the desktop\tutorial folder.
NOTE Back up the tutorial drawing files so you still have the original files if you
make a mistake. See “Backing up Tutorial Drawing Files” on page 40.
The drawing file contains a spring created from a helical sweep.