MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > Dialog-Boxes > Dialog: Function-Block: Parameter-Control

Parameter-Control FB

Motion-values at the input-connector to a Parameter Control FB can control the values of:

•Dimensions

•Extrusion Depths

•Extrusion Offsets.

There is only one input-connector. If you want to use different motion-values to control other elements of the same type, you will need to add more than one Parameter-Control FB to the model.

Applications: extruding toothpaste, filling bottles, parallel indexing cams, mechanism synthesis.

When to use:

Use a Parameter Control for mechanism synthesis, visual effects, ...

TOP-TIP: If I design a motion for a visual effect, I use lower-case for the motion-name. For a motion that is intended to control an axis in my machine, I use ALL -CAPS for the MOTION-NAME.

Parameter-Control dialog-box

Dialog-ParameterControl

The controls in the Parameter Control FB are:

Enabled / Not Enabled check-box

'Top-Box' - Profiles and Extrusions are put here when you select them in the graphic-area.

You must click the element to put it in the 'Bottom-Box'...

'Bottom-Box - Elements that will be controlled by the motion-values at the input to the FB

The element types you can add are Dimensions, Extrusions and Profiles.

•Dimensions: The dimension is controlled directly by a motion-values.

•Extrusion: The Solid is updated as the dimension is updated, if that dimension controls the shape of the Extrusion.

•Profiles: The Extrusion-Depth of the Extrusion element.

Delete icon - to remove an element from the dialog-box - preselect the element.

OK, Cancel, Cancel and Undo all changes, Help icons.

Control Actions - to be done by the Parameter-Control FB.

Parameters can you control with the Parameter-Control FB.

The elements must be in the model before you can control them with the Parameter-Control FB.

It is usual that to connect a wire to the input-connector of the Parameter-Control FB.

The motion-values at the input-connector become the absolute values for the elements you want to control.

The elements you can add and control are:

•Dimensions that you add with the Part-Editor. The dimension may be a sketch-element's position or its size.

•Extrusions that you add to sketch-loops. You must add the Extrusion when the extrusion defines the shape of the Solid, with a dimension.

•Profiles that you add to sketch-loops. The motion-values will control the Extrusion-Depth parameter in the Extrusion dialog-box

How to use Parameter-Control dialog-box

Open the Parameter-Control dialog-box in the normal way. or see How to open a Dialog-Box.

To enable the FB

☑ Enabled

1.Click the check-box to enable the dialog-box.

To Add Elements

1.Click the elements in the graphic area or Assembly-Tree

To add a Dimension

1.In the Mechanism-Editor, click the sketch-element that has a dimension (which you have added with the Part-Editor )

- or -

2.In the Part-Editor, click the dimension, or the sketch-element with a dimension.

The dimension shows in the Bottom-Box.

To add a Profile and/or an Extrusion:

1.In the Mechanism-Editor, click the Profile (the Pink contour of the sketch-loop).

The Profile and the Extrusion show in the Top-Box.

To control an element you must move the element to the Bottom-Box.

2.Click the Profile and/or the Extrusion in the Top-Box.

The element(s) show in the Bottom-Box.

About the Bottom-Box

Driven Parameter

The name of the dimension to control.

The name of the Extrusion or Profile to control

Solve Element

A Part when the Driven-Parameter is a dimension.

An Extrusion when the Driven Parameter is an Extrusion or a Profile

Control-Action

The action of the FB are:

Update dimension when the Driven Parameter is a dimension

Update Extrusion depth when the Driven Parameter is a Profile

Rebuild Solid (to change the Extrusion-Offset) when the Driven Parameter is an Extrusion.

To delete an element:

1.Click an element in one of the boxes.

2.Click