T-FLEX Parametric CAD. Fundamentals. 2D Design

Circles
Now, you can set the circle radius by simply clicking , or by inputting in the property window or the circle
parameters dialog box ().
Once the circle is created tangent to two lines, this relation will always be maintained. To witness this, do,
for example, the following. Exit the command “C: Construct Circle”. In command-waiting mode, move
the cursor over the created circle and click . The system will enter the editing command (“EC: Edit
Construction”). The circle will be highlighted. Now the user can easily modify its radius by moving the
cursor. Meanwhile, the tangency to the lines will be maintained. Try doing this several times, moving the
circle over other quadrants.
At any moment while rubberbanding the circle in the command “EC:
Edit Construction”, one can modify the parameter value (the
radius). This can be done in transparent mode in the property
window, or in the parameters dialog (the option ) Instead of a
numerical value, a variable name or an expression can be used. For
example, instead of the radius value, one can enter a variable name
“R”.
After pressing [OK] the system will request the value for the newly
created variable “R”. One can accept the system default value or
modify it as desired.
In future, this will allow using the variable for data exchange with
external applications or for configuring the drawing when inserting
into an assembly. Upon confirming the value of the new variable, the
drawing will be regenerated per the entered radius value.
From now on, the circle radius is driven by the variable “R”. The value of this variable can be easily
modified in the command “V: Edit Variables”. Call the command “V: Edit Variables”.
Keyboard Textual Menu Icon
“Parameters|Variables”
The variable editor window will come on the screen (see the chapter “Variables”), containing four columns:
“Name”, “Expression”, “Value”, “Comment”. The “Name” entry contains the only existing variable, the
“R”. The “Expression” entry displays the number defined at variable creation. The same number is
displayed in the “Value” field. Let’s change the value of this variable. Enter a new value, say, “50”. Upon
confirming the input by , the new value will be displayed in the third column, titled “Value”.
The “Comment” field may be used for entering information text
about the current variable. This information is called “the variable
comment”. The comment is not used in defining geometrical
relations or regeneration per se, however, it may be quite helpful to
the user at the time of modifying the drawing.
Modify the “R” variable several times, exiting the variable editor
each time by pressing [OK]. The drawing will regenerate each
time according to the new entered value of the variable.
207