Constructing Circle with Variable Diameter

[Flintstone]

We are trying to construct a circle using the two tangent lines selection. We can do that. Now we would like to have the diameter of that circle, be the diameter of a circle we measured earlier in the routine. In this case, the diameter of the B RADIUS circle feature. Can this be done?

Thanks.

[edrake]

If I am understanding you correctly, I think you need to assign a variable to that measured feature's diameter.

Something like

ASSIGN/BDIAM=B_RADIUS.DIAM

Then When you construct your Tangent Two Lines Circle, substitute 'BDIAM'** (or whatever you'd like to call it) for the Diameter.

**This needs to be done in the Edit Window, not in the 'Constructed Circle Interface'

[DAN_M]

PC DMIS looks at certain characters in various text fields as math functions. Currently, you have spaces and parenthesis in your names, the software is going to wig out.

For us to begin helping,

1) Please re-name your program's features, alignments, EVERYTHING to only have numbers, letters, or underscores. NO SPECIAL CHARACTERS or spaces.

2) Please re-state your question a but more clearly. I don't understand what you're asking, maybe someone else does though, sorry.


Thanks!

[A-machine-insp]

I believe I understand what you are wanting. You want a circle located by the 2 lines but at the diameter of a circle measured earlier in the program. If that is what you want, use a generic feature. Set location to the circle created by the two lines then assign the diameter to the circle measured earlier in the program.

[Flintstone]

I'm working on it. Yes I'm trying to assign a variable. And there does seem to be something to that understrike and spaces thing. Would have replied sooner, but had to do something else for a while.

Thanks for your help

[Rich P]

Use a generic feature - circle Construct this with your B as the feature size measured diameter and use you constructed circle x,y,z,i ,j,k elements

[edrake]

I could be misunderstanding the end goal, but I think Flintstone needs to use a constructed 'Tangent Two Lines' Circle, rather than a Generic Circle.

The center position is going to be dependent on both the measured position of the lines, and the measured diameter. Doing that with a Generic feature seems complicated.

But again, I'm not sure what we are trying to achieve...

[A-machine-insp]

edrake I think he has the location of the circle from the line tangents, he just wants the diameter to be from a circle taken earlier in the program. Like you though, that is if I'm understanding him correctly.

[edrake]

But can he have the location without the size...? The size of the circle would shift the position toward or away from the intersection of the tangent lines, wouldn't it? But then I'm assuming they need to still be tangent...

[Mike Ruff]

I agree with edrake. The way he is calculating the circle, the location of the circle will vary as the diameter changes.

[Flintstone]

Thanks Gentlemen,

Actually, we want the location of the circle to vary as the size changes. Our engineering department has put two datum target lines at 45 degrees to the long axis of the part, and tangent to the radius at that end. Kind of like the two constructed lines you see in the illustration. As the diameter of the radius changes, the raw casting will "shift" in relation to the machined features. Not sure this is good end function based design, but it's what the drawing calls for. Perhaps they are trying to simulate some kind of machining fixture locator. edrake is, I believe right, in his assessment of our intentions. Now to get this to work. I thought I had it but, now it doesn't look like the size of B ( the tangent two lines circle ) is following the diameter of B_Radius ( the actual feature ) I'm including some attachments. Lol, hopefully this isn't too amusing. The attachments include the text of the feature, the text of the assignment and the constructed circle, and a shot of reports for the B_Radius diameter, and for the B constructed tangent two lines circle.

[Mike Ruff]

Thanks Gentlemen,

Actually, we want the location of the circle to vary as the size changes. Our engineering department has put two datum target lines at 45 degrees to the long axis of the part, and tangent to the radius at that end. Kind of like the two constructed lines you see in the illustration. As the diameter of the radius changes, the raw casting will "shift" in relation to the machined features. Not sure this is good end function based design, but it's what the drawing calls for. Perhaps they are trying to simulate some kind of machining fixture locator. edrake is, I believe right, in his assessment of our intentions. Now to get this to work. I thought I had it but, now it doesn't look like the size of B ( the tangent two lines circle ) is following the diameter of B_Radius ( the actual feature ) I'm including some attachments. Lol, hopefully this isn't too amusing. The attachments include the text of the feature, the text of the assignment and the constructed circle, and a shot of reports for the B_Radius diameter, and for the B constructed tangent two lines circle.

I was able to replicate your issue. It looks like the tangent 2 lines option for the constructed circle doesn't update the ACTL diameter as the THEO diameter changes. The variable updates, but it is not applied to the calculation and the only way I can get it to update to calculate it correctly is to F9 the constructed circle and hit OK, otherwise it stays at whatever value it had when the constructed circle was initially created. But that's not a practical fix... I don't know how to force it to update the ACTL as the THEO changes. Hopefully someone else knows something we don't.

[Flintstone]

Thanks Mike,

That is exactly what was happening to us. We're glad you took the time to help us. Also, we appreciate the thorough job you did.

Thanks again

[UKCMM]

Agree with Mike the measured values are not updating but the theo's are, if you now create a generic circle and call in the tangent circle theo's as the measured values you should get the result you want