Parametric designs are a powerful way of using Sheet Lightning by simply typing parameter values only.
The parametric design process requires no CAD design skills. It consists of simply locating and loading a
parametric file, sometimes scaling it, then changing parameter values and finally generating output.
Generally parametric designs are limited to simpler cases of 2 or 3 objects only. More complex designs
mean there is an expanding number of parameters, which can become confusing. In these case it is better
to resort to CAD design method.
Creating a Parametric Design
Parametric designs are created by simple using the conversion commands in the File menu .
These
commands are intended to provide the tools to create a custom parametric design library with ease. A
library of parametric designs are supplied with Sheet Lightning.
When a design is converted form a CAD format to a parametric format the design is analysed and
parameters are attached. The parametric analysis filters out parameters that it considers redundant. If you
wish to filtration to leave the parameter in the design for alteration the rule is to make sure the parameter
value is non-zero, or in the case of angle has an obscure value (not 0, 90, 180 or 270 degrees). For
exmaple if the Z-Angle of a part is zero the Z-Angle will no appear as a parameter. If however the design
has a Z-Angle value it will appear in the parametric after filtration.
Having converted the design to a parametric the next step is to delete the parameters not required (i.e
further manual parameter filtration). This is done selecting the parameters you wish to delete (multi select
using the control or shift keys) and right clicking while the mouse is over the parameter editor. Use the
delete command to delete the selected parameters.
The final step is to save the parametric design.
If too many parameters have been deleted you can start the process again by converting back to a CAD
design (File menu command), then back again to
a parametric. The design is re-analysed and parameters
re-attached.