Stretch Block with Part set to end

Folk's,

I've a Rail that is parametric. On each end I've an end cap. The rail stretched to the right. Is it possible to get the right end cap to move with the end of the rail? The rail a attributes so has the end cap. I need to be able to extract info. I don't think I can extract info if end cap is in sub assm.

Any ideas.

DECHAL

Hey DECHAL you need to put a move parameter on the end cap then make sure the move paramenter is within the Rail Stretch parameter, post the block if you need more help.

Done a quick one does this help?

rail.dwg

Block attached.

This is "all singing & all dancing".

But what I would like to get, is when I change the length of the rail using the "lookup parameter" the end cap will move with the stretch.

It's sort of an ASSOCIATIVE insertion point I'm looking for!

Any offers!!!

Cheers

DECHAL.

end rail.dwg

I still can't visualise what you need - I'll have a longer look at lunchtime however I think you will need it to all be one block. Do you need the centre arm to be infinitely variable or just a number of set lengths? If just a number of set lengths you can change the distance parameter type to "list", or remove both grips and rely on the look up.

Hello Dave,

What I want to know, is if I change the length of the RAIL via the lookup list. Is it possible to get the end cap to move (relative to the new length)?

I use 100's of these on drawings and they are alway one of the lookup lehgths. I just want the end cap to move with the end of the rail when I change the length.

I do need to be able to extract the attribute info when I finish my drawing and it has to be correct!

I Think that when you blocks inside blocks (both with attributes) you loose the lower level attributes! I can't have this.

Any ideas would be great!

DECHAL

I don't think you can have dynamic blocks within dynamic blocks but you can move a block. Put a move action linked to your distance and select the block at that end. Then when you chance the distance the block will move.

I'll attach one of my terminal blocks and you can see what I mean with the count attribute.

edit -

It doesn't have to be a block, it can just be a group of items.

TG-WDK2_5.dwg

Could you not make one block with 3 visibilty states to suit your needs. As in one visibilty state will just have the rail, the second with one end cap and the third with 2 endcaps.....or whatever your needs are. That way when you stretch the rail you can bring the endcap with it too.

Hey... as Dave says i wouldn't bother with a block inside a block. It needs to be all one block but your list of attributes will be long in this instance as you have 3 parts, im assuming there are different end caps so you need to be able to change the part No. etc of each. Use visibility parameters for your adapt-leg-straight-cutout & No cutout, but then i don't think you attribute extraction will perform correctly with your lookup parameters.......

You may be better leaving it as it is if it works well now and your extraction comes off correct, just a few more clicks to position the caps.

It would be nice to have a 'All singing all dancing' block but its not always possible.

I'll accept it!!!

Just was hoping that there was an easy way to insert the end cap to a point on the rail not a point in the drawing, therefore cap would stay with the end of rail.

Maybe in AutoCAD 2010?????

ASSOCIATIVE insertion point

I'll just have to keep moving for now.

Thanks for input.

DECHAL

you can place a "point" on the end of the rail so that you have a NODE to snap to .

again, no time to really look but I would remove the stretch and just use the look up - something like this....

Combined End.dwg