Fun project. When I saw it I couldn't figure out how I would even attack that. Your solution is cool. After some research, I found there is a Feature Script called 3D Spiral that will create a helix around a curved path, making that first step of your project much easier. Draw a circle; 3D spiral around it; then the rest is the same as you did.
Ha! Nice variable demo! One thing worth mentioning is that you can actually use the variable table to change variable values while you are editing the sketch, which is actually really handy. So at 4:10 you didn't need to exit the sketch to change the value. My other thought is that you made your life harder than needed by creating all these sketches: just create a "cross" shape in your sketch 2 and circular pattern the sketch feature 8 times to get your references for the spline, a lot quicker! Moving the variable to the top of the tree is actually not best practice (I used to do it as well as "looks" more organized) as it has a negative impact on regen time. It doesn't matter on a simple part studio but on a more complex one having the variable declared only when it's needed means you avoid rebuilding the whole tree above it when you change the value. The table provides a way to see all of them together easily so it doesn't matter that they are scattered in the tree (and when you mouse over a variable in the table it cross highlights all the features that use it in the tree). Lastly, were you just looking for an excuse to show off the transform tool at the end (instead of using a circular pattern)? I tested this in a public doc called "Easy TTT Twist Bracelet", including a bonus "easiest" option using the 3D spiral FeatureSrcipt (with configurable number of turns). Happy Onshaping!
I was about to say the same thing about regen time when all the variables are at the top of the tree. Learned that the hard way in one of my own projects a while back. Another benefit is that if you use folders in the feature tree to organize your work you can easily have the variable listed at the top of the folder corresponding to the part or operation where it is used. It helps a lot with the visual clutter, and it wouldn't be possible if they were all kept at the top!
Oh man this is SUCH VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE!!! Thanks Airwick I love reading and digesting your comments! So helpful! I looked at your model in the public space. Circular Pattern of a SKETCH!!!??????? MIND = BLOWN!!!!!!!
@@TooTallToby Glad you are finding it useful! There are definitely some things in Onshape that are "non-obvious", one of the reasons I like seeing other people's input on forums or random videos as there often some interesting nugget of info in there! I find Onshape is (generally) pretty good at not imposing "arbitrary" limitations on things so I find that it's worth experimenting when you have one of those "I wonder if..." thought as it more often than not just works! Patterning a sketch or editing the variable table while in a sketch are some examples! Some of my other favorites are switching configuration while editing a feature or sketch, renaming a feature that is below the rollback bar (or while the part studio is rebuilding), etc... I should do a "did you know" video / series some day!
Yes! Great idea and I agree variables can really make your projects consistent and easy to manage, especially for library type components and features!
This is great for learning about variables, ty for sharing! On a side note, if your goal is to efficiently make a smooth twist, use the Contour Spiral feature instead; it will create a much smoother twist and it takes about two mouse clicks instead of 10 minutes 😎
similar to equation driven patterns in solidworks. I did patterns for a sprocket with pitch, dia, etc variations. works pretty slick. i imagine this could work with say creating a table with different lengths or widths, etc.
Great vid as always! These tutors are what onshape really need to be more and more popular! But imo variables shouldn't be dependent on the timeline, no matter when you created var it should be available for all features and sketches. Or is there any case when it matters when you create var..? But I don't see any point in this..
Thanks so much for the kind words - glad you enjoyed this one! I think that is the case - I'm still learning about variables myself, but Airwick posted a pretty good comment below where he talks about variables and where they can / should land in the feature tree. Good stuff!
@jerryofthebikes, there are a couple "levels" of variables in Onshape. The basic one here is just a "normal" feature in the tree and the main benefit is to improve the performance by declaring it only when it's used so that the entire feature tree doesn't get rebuilt when you change the value (helpful in more complex part studios). This also permits variables to be created from "measured" geometry in which case they have to be computed after the parent geometry by definition (fun tip, you can create a variable straight from the measure tool by clicking the "(x)" icon next to the value!). You can also use a variable studio to declare variables to be used across all tabs of a document (and they can also be imported across documents), in that case they are obviously not dependent on the feature tree. Lastly you can also use "configuration variables" if you need something that can be changed "on the fly" really easily as well as calling different values from an assembly (for example).
hello I am on the mobile version of Onshape I have done all the steps in the video but there is no option to “copy” the part what can I do to resolve this problem? Kind regards, it’s always a pleasure to watch your tutorials
Finding after years of fusion 360, I find it cant do everything I need to make extremally high tolerance curvy spiral shapes, Hopefully onshape can make the process easy.
Fun project. When I saw it I couldn't figure out how I would even attack that. Your solution is cool. After some research, I found there is a Feature Script called 3D Spiral that will create a helix around a curved path, making that first step of your project much easier. Draw a circle; 3D spiral around it; then the rest is the same as you did.
Awww yeah I can't wait to launch that feature script!! Thanks for the tip!
Ha! Nice variable demo!
One thing worth mentioning is that you can actually use the variable table to change variable values while you are editing the sketch, which is actually really handy. So at 4:10 you didn't need to exit the sketch to change the value.
My other thought is that you made your life harder than needed by creating all these sketches: just create a "cross" shape in your sketch 2 and circular pattern the sketch feature 8 times to get your references for the spline, a lot quicker!
Moving the variable to the top of the tree is actually not best practice (I used to do it as well as "looks" more organized) as it has a negative impact on regen time. It doesn't matter on a simple part studio but on a more complex one having the variable declared only when it's needed means you avoid rebuilding the whole tree above it when you change the value. The table provides a way to see all of them together easily so it doesn't matter that they are scattered in the tree (and when you mouse over a variable in the table it cross highlights all the features that use it in the tree).
Lastly, were you just looking for an excuse to show off the transform tool at the end (instead of using a circular pattern)?
I tested this in a public doc called "Easy TTT Twist Bracelet", including a bonus "easiest" option using the 3D spiral FeatureSrcipt (with configurable number of turns).
Happy Onshaping!
I was about to say the same thing about regen time when all the variables are at the top of the tree. Learned that the hard way in one of my own projects a while back. Another benefit is that if you use folders in the feature tree to organize your work you can easily have the variable listed at the top of the folder corresponding to the part or operation where it is used. It helps a lot with the visual clutter, and it wouldn't be possible if they were all kept at the top!
Oh man this is SUCH VALUABLE KNOWLEDGE!!! Thanks Airwick I love reading and digesting your comments! So helpful! I looked at your model in the public space. Circular Pattern of a SKETCH!!!??????? MIND = BLOWN!!!!!!!
@@TooTallToby Glad you are finding it useful!
There are definitely some things in Onshape that are "non-obvious", one of the reasons I like seeing other people's input on forums or random videos as there often some interesting nugget of info in there!
I find Onshape is (generally) pretty good at not imposing "arbitrary" limitations on things so I find that it's worth experimenting when you have one of those "I wonder if..." thought as it more often than not just works!
Patterning a sketch or editing the variable table while in a sketch are some examples!
Some of my other favorites are switching configuration while editing a feature or sketch, renaming a feature that is below the rollback bar (or while the part studio is rebuilding), etc... I should do a "did you know" video / series some day!
Dang! That’s really slick! Great tutorial!
Thanks! Glad you liked this one!
Ho wow, I learned a lot with this tutorial, thank you
Awww yeah! Glad you liked this one!
This kind of tutorial is great! Keep them coming!
Thanks Erik glad you enjoyed it!
Really useful tips! Great for storing screw hole sizes in project boxes, or holes for LED’s.
Yes! Great idea and I agree variables can really make your projects consistent and easy to manage, especially for library type components and features!
This is great for learning about variables, ty for sharing!
On a side note, if your goal is to efficiently make a smooth twist, use the Contour Spiral feature instead; it will create a much smoother twist and it takes about two mouse clicks instead of 10 minutes 😎
Oh man is that built in or a featurescript? I gotta try that!! THANKS!!!
similar to equation driven patterns in solidworks. I did patterns for a sprocket with pitch, dia, etc variations. works pretty slick. i imagine this could work with say creating a table with different lengths or widths, etc.
For sure! Great comparison!
Great vid as always! These tutors are what onshape really need to be more and more popular!
But imo variables shouldn't be dependent on the timeline, no matter when you created var it should be available for all features and sketches. Or is there any case when it matters when you create var..? But I don't see any point in this..
Thanks so much for the kind words - glad you enjoyed this one! I think that is the case - I'm still learning about variables myself, but Airwick posted a pretty good comment below where he talks about variables and where they can / should land in the feature tree. Good stuff!
@jerryofthebikes, there are a couple "levels" of variables in Onshape. The basic one here is just a "normal" feature in the tree and the main benefit is to improve the performance by declaring it only when it's used so that the entire feature tree doesn't get rebuilt when you change the value (helpful in more complex part studios). This also permits variables to be created from "measured" geometry in which case they have to be computed after the parent geometry by definition (fun tip, you can create a variable straight from the measure tool by clicking the "(x)" icon next to the value!).
You can also use a variable studio to declare variables to be used across all tabs of a document (and they can also be imported across documents), in that case they are obviously not dependent on the feature tree.
Lastly you can also use "configuration variables" if you need something that can be changed "on the fly" really easily as well as calling different values from an assembly (for example).
hello I am on the mobile version of Onshape I have done all the steps in the video but there is no option to “copy” the part what can I do to resolve this problem? Kind regards, it’s always a pleasure to watch your tutorials
You could try it as a CIRCULAR PATTERN instead of a move body - that should work!
@@TooTallToby yes it worked thank you very much 🫡
Finding after years of fusion 360, I find it cant do everything I need to make extremally high tolerance curvy spiral shapes, Hopefully onshape can make the process easy.
nice!