Creating a Parametric Part

Owned by Brian Carter (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Jan 16, 2012Version comment
7 min read

Available in TurboCAD Pro and Platinum only
This section explains how to create a parametric part from within TurboCAD.

Note: You can also create a parametric part using a script. For details on creating scripts, check the "Docs" folder of the TurboCAD installation disk.

There are four basic steps in this process:

  1. creating the object(s) themselves
  2. saving the objects as a part and defining parameters
  3. defining relationships between parameters
  4. inserting the part

Step 1- Creating the Object(s)

In this example, a part will be created from a polyline with holes, made 3D by extruding it. The objects will be created using different sizes than the actual part that will be saved, to show that parameters can be used for accurate sizing.

  1. In this example, Auto Constraints is turned on. This is so that dimensions can be used as parameters, and so that geometric relationships between objects will be maintained when parameters are changed.

    Note: For details on constraining objects, see Auto Constraint.
  2. Create a polyline using two identical linear segments and two tangent arc segments.

  3. Create two circles concentric with the polyline arcs. The circles can be different sizes now, but in the eventual parametric part, the circles will be identical.

  4. Apply Concentric constraints so that the circles will remain concentric with the polyline arcs.

  5. Add a Linear Dimension and a Radial Dimension to measure the polyline.

  6. Activate Simple Extrude, and make sure Use Compound Profile is active. Select the polyline, then press Shift and select two circles. Click to define the height, or enter an exact value.

Step 2- Defining the Part and its Parameters

Now a part will be created from this object. There will be five parameters defined for this part:
H1 = radius of one internal circle
H2 = radius of the other internal circle
R = radius of the polyline arc
W = length of the linear polyline segment
D = extrude depth

  1. Select Parametric Part Manager.
  2. Use a selection window to select all of the objects.

  3. The Selection Info palette opens, and the part is temporarily called "Part Candidate." Expand this item to see what the part contains.

  4. The parameters H1 and H2 are for the two internal circles. Highlight the first Circle in the palette.

    The circle is also highlighted on the model.

  5. The radius of this circle is found under "Metrics," at the bottom of the palette. Right-click on the Radius field.

  6. Enter the parameter name "H1," then click OK.

    Note: You are not restricted to defining only geometric parameters. You can also define material, pen color, line width, etc. as parameters.
  7. Next, highlight the other Circle.

    The other circle is now highlighted on the model.

  8. Right-click on the Radius field.

  9. Enter the parameter name "H2."

  10. For the next parameter, highlight the Radial Dimension.

    The dimension of the polyline arc is now highlighted.

  11. The value of this dimension is found under "Constraints." Right-click on this field.

  12. Name this parameter "R."

  13. Next is the Linear Dimension.

  14. This value is also found under "Constraints." Name its parameter "W."

  15. The last parameter is the depth of the part. Highlight "Simple Extrude."

  16. This parameter is called "Height" and is found under "Simple Extrude." Right-click on this field.

  17. Name this last parameter "D."

  18. Now that all five parameters are defined, select Finish from the local menu or Inspector Bar.

    Note: There are other options in the local menu and Inspector Bar. Relocate Reference Point enables you to define the point by which the part will be inserted. For circular parts, Set Assembly Axis can be used to set an axis for assembly using Assemble by Axis (see Assemble by Axis).

Step 3- Defining Relationships between Parameters

  1. The Parametric Part window is now open, in which you can define relationships between the parameters you've defined. First, enter a name for the part.

    The eventual part will be defined by only three parameters: the hole radius, distance between hole centers, and depth. All other parameters will be functions of these three.
  2. The names of the parameters currently listed don't tell the user exactly what they are for, so we can add parameters with more obvious names. To do this, right-click on the first parameter on the list, and select Insert Parameter.

  3. Name this parameter "HoleRad."

  4. "HoleRad" is now first parameter on the list. Under "Value," enter the default radius that will be used when you first insert the part.

  5. Under "Type," specify "Linear."

  6. Create another parameter for the center-to-center distance between the holes. This parameter can be named "CenToCen." Specify an initial "Value" and "Type."

  7. "H1" and "H2" will be have the same value as "HoleRad," and therefore do not need to be displayed as parameters you can edit when inserting the part. So for "H1," uncheck the box under "Visible."

  8. Under "Value" next to "H1," replace the number with "HoleRad."

  9. Do the same for "H2."

  10. Make "R" invisible as well, and define its value as twice the hole radius.

  11. Make "W" invisible, and set its value equal to "CenToCen."

  12. Now the three parameters needed for the part are defined. They are "HoleRad," "CenToCen," and "D." Click OK to close the Parametric Part window.

Step 4- Inserting the Part

  1. Continue in the file in which you defined the part. Select Insert / Parametric Part. Select the part you just defined.

    Note: Load from File can be used to insert parametric parts saved in other files.
  2. Click to insert the part. The inserted part is shown to the right of the original geometry. Note that the two holes are equal, and that the polyline arc's radius is twice as large as the hole radius.

  3. Select the part, and it appears in the Selection Info palette, with its three parameters available for editing. The initial values are the ones you set in the Parametric Part window.

  4. Increase "HoleRad."

    The internal holes updates, as well as the overall radius of the part, which was set to be twice as large as the hole radius.

  5. Increase the "CenToCen" parameter value.

    The distance between holes updates, while the radius values remain the same.

  6. The last value to change is "D."

    This changes the depth of the extruded part.

Editing a Parametric Symbol

Before loading the part, you can still edit it. Click the local menu option Edit Existing Symbol.

You can edit either the content or the parameters. When finished, click OK and the part is saved with the changes.

For any documentation issues please email:
Documentation@imsidesign.com