Can anyone solve this problem - levels need to be dynamic

[spittle]

Attached are two images, one showing my model assembly with a plane offset, indicating level 0.000. Image 2 shows a typical section.

 

I'm trying to find a way to get my levels to update automatically on my sections whenever the levels change. Currently they are just pieces of text.

 

The dimensions are all in mm in my drawing, the levels needs to be shown in meters though.

 

Any ideas?

[shift1313]

im not totally sure i follow here but your plane 0.000 is your "ground" for the building or the depth of your foundation and you want to reference the measurements to this plane?

[spittle]

0.000 is sea level, and the levels on my sections are indicating how many meters each horizontal surface is above sea level.

 

Currently my 0.000 plane is where my concrete slab is offset from.

[shift1313]

sorry spittle ive never deal with this before. I would venture a guess that you need a construction line on your 0.000 plane and all your dimensions need to be referenced to that. this way if you alter where you sketch plane is, they should update. but like i said ive never dealt with this. sorry

[FusiveR]

Use the method which shift1313 outlines above.

 

Reply back if you're having trouble.

[spittle]

Am I right in thinking that that would involve adding new 'driven' dimensions from my construction line on my 0.000 plane to every horizontal surface? This would be a longer process than adding the levels manually.

 

I want to be able to use my model dims as far as possible.

 

I thought maybe equations were the way forward e.g.

 

to get the level of the plinths to display I could make an equation like:

 

Dimension between 0.000 and finished floor level + Plinth Extrusion Dimension

 

Only problem here was I can't create equations in a Solidworks Drawing and this is where I see that it needs to be done.

 

By the way - the levels in this model were done by specifying extrusion heights etc, rather than using the 'offset from surface' option in the feature. This is my first Solidworks model so it's not perfect.

[vinod]

Am I right in thinking that that would involve adding new 'driven' dimensions from my construction line on my 0.000 plane to every horizontal surface? This would be a longer process than adding the levels manually.

 

I want to be able to use my model dims as far as possible.

 

I thought maybe equations were the way forward e.g.

 

to get the level of the plinths to display I could make an equation like:

 

Dimension between 0.000 and finished floor level + Plinth Extrusion Dimension

 

Only problem here was I can't create equations in a Solidworks Drawing and this is where I see that it needs to be done.

 

By the way - the levels in this model were done by specifying extrusion heights etc, rather than using the 'offset from surface' option in the feature. This is my first Solidworks model so it's not perfect.

 

I am not a solidworks user:( , attached herewith the AutoCAD version of automatic level indicator which I am currently using.

Autolevels.dwg

[spittle]

Thanks but this is not an AutoCAD problem. Solidworks is very different.

[spittle]

Back to this again...

 

the only thing I need to do now is work out how to override the units. the number next to 'GL' above the black arrow is linked to the dimension.

 

I need to keep the dimension's units in mm but in the text display it in meters.

 

Any ideas?

[shift1313]

when you select your dimensions and the dimension tab pops up on the left, you have 3 options, Value/Leaders/Other. The other tab should have an Override Units check box. This should let you override your units with meters

[spittle]

I was trying to keep the dimension in mm and then overide it in the text but I guess I can just override the dimension as won't be displaying it anyway.

 

It's just as standard we show all dims in mm and all levels in m.

[shift1313]

Isnt is the same thing? If you use the override feature it just changes what displays and not the actual drawing units. If you select one dimensions it will only change that one.

[spittle]

You're right, I was being thick!