T-FLEX Parametric CAD. Fundamentals. 2D Design

«Bottom-Up» Design
Initially, a new connector does not contain any variables. At the time of creation, the user normally already
knows the purpose of creating this connector and, in particular, what parameters of the connector fragments
to control with it. If, for example, we create a connector on the axis of a shaft, we will be connecting to it the
fragments of parts to be mounted on the shaft. Therefore, we need to pass the shaft diameter value to the
fragment being connected (say, a ball bearing).
To create a new variable in the connector , press the button [Add]. In the coming up window, define the
name of the connector variable and its expression. The name of the connector value is used subsequently
upon attaching another fragment to the given connector. The name of the external variable of the fragment
may not coincide with the value of the connector. At the moment of attaching the system uses a special
parameter of the fragment external variable called «Connector values» (see the chapter «Variables» for
details). If in the list of values of the external variable connector the name coinciding with the value stored in
the connector, to which the fragment is being attached, will be found, then the value for the external variable
will be automatically read from the connector. Link with the connector will be retained. Also, when attaching
to the connector there is a possibility to manually link any fragment external variable directly with one of the
connector values (see below “Specifying values of fragment external variables”).
The number (or the text in quotation marks for a text variable), expression or the name of the current
document variable can be put into the field “Expression”. In our example, the value of the diameter, which
is driven by a certain variable (for example, ‘D’) in the shaft model, has to be passed to other fragments.
When creating the named value for the connector, it is possible to assign the name ‘Diameter’, and put the
variable ‘D’ into the expression field. When creating the ball bearing model, in the properties for the variable
driving the mounting diameter, it is necessary to specify the new value of the connector with the name
‘Diameter’.
The tab “Common” allows defining basic properties of a connector as an auxiliary drawing object – name,
level, layer and color. Besides, a special box in this tab tracks information about the number of connections
to this connector (if the dialog of the connector properties is open directly in the assembly drawing).
Defining associated elements for connector
To define associations of graphic lines with a connector, use the option in the automenu:
Set Snap Elements
Upon selecting the option, the system enters the mode of selecting lines in the drawing that will activate the
connector once pointed at by the mouse. To add elements to the connector, select those by the mouse in the
drawing window. The selected elements are included into the list of associated elements in the properties
window.
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