Tutorials PartCraft help Walkthroughs
Equations both ways
Change a parameter and the part follows; type a new size into a driven number and PartCraft works out the parameter behind it, asking which one when several could change.
Written for PartCraft 0.3. The same help is inside the app: press F1.
An equation such as Extrude1 depth = thick + extra works in both directions.
Forward: change the parameter
On the Parameters tab, change thick from 20 to 30. Extrude1's depth becomes 30 + extra, and the part rebuilds.
Backward: change the driven number
- Click "Extrude1" in the history. Its Depth (mm) box shows ƒ: an equation drives it.
- Type the size you want, for example
40, and press ReturnEnter.
PartCraft solves for the parameter behind the equation, through as many steps as it takes (depth = hub_h, hub_h = disc_t + 50: typing a height changes disc_t). The status bar says what changed, for example that extra went from 5 to 15.
When two or more parameters drive the number, a box asks Which parameter should change? and lists them. Click one; the others keep their values. Cancel changes nothing.
The same works in a sketch: double-click a driven dimension, type a value, press ReturnEnter. It also works in the Value column of the parameter table, for a parameter that is itself an expression.
When it cannot
- A number that must be whole (a pattern count) or stay in range (an angle up to 360°) is refused before anything changes.
- An equation of fixed numbers only (
=40) has no parameter to change: the number you type replaces it. - If no value of the parameter gives the size you typed, the status bar says so and nothing changes.
- A sketch that cannot be solved with the new value keeps its previous values, and the status bar names the sketch.
Every change, either way, is one step for ⌘ZCtrl+Z and ⌘YCtrl+Y.