How to link to another part

[Uncle_Hairball]

I'm working on an assembly and trying to link the height of a linear pattern to the height of the part being patterned. Somehow, I need to add the part name to the variable I'm using, but cannot figure out the syntax. It's got to be something like "D1@Boss-Extrude1.Part_Name", but SW isn't happy with that.

[Glenn Schroeder]

In a case like that I don't bother with syntax. I create a sketch in the Assembly with a vertical construction line, with both ends fully defined by relations (in your case the end points would be coincident with the top and bottom of the Part). Insert a driven dimension for the line length and close the sketch.

Set up a global variable linked to this dimension, then reference that global variable in the linear pattern. I didn't give a lot of detail on that last part, but feel free to ask if you have questions.

[SPerman]

There is also the "up to reference" option in the linear pattern, but it can be finicky. Glenn's approach is a good one.

image.png (17.11 KiB) Viewed 1715 times

[XHawkeye]

"D1@Boss-Extrude1@Part_Name<#>.Part"

[Frederick_Law]

Use SSP or Master Skeleton.
Linking parts in assembly is fast and easy but difficult to manage.
Do that on a few parts is ok.
When you got more parts, it'll be impossible to avoid cyclic links.
It means changing one part cause other parts to change and change that part again in a never ending loop.

[Glenn Schroeder]

Use SSP or Master Skeleton.
Linking parts in assembly is fast and easy but difficult to manage.
Do that on a few parts is ok.
When you got more parts, it'll be impossible to avoid cyclic links.
It means changing one part cause other parts to change and change that part again in a never ending loop.

I will agree that you can run into problems with external references, but that shouldn't be an issue using one Parts dimensions to drive a linear pattern in an Assembly (which is what the OP asked for).

[Frederick_Law]

True, if it's only part to assembly feature.

[Uncle_Hairball]

Thank you all for your advice. XHawkeye's advice is exactly what I was looking for.

[sergio.monti]

There also a quick way to do it. Create the pattern first, then double click on the pattern items in the tree -> double click on the dimension of the pattern and edit typing "=" and click on the dimension to link on the part. See gif attacched.