Assembly 4 workbench
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Re: Assembly 4 workbench
Apologies if this has already been addressed.
I have just noticed if I move the folder containing an assembly, the links to object uses the full file path. For example, see the error in the image below.
Is is possible to use relative paths?
Thanks!
OS: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster) (XFCE/xfce)
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.18614 (Git) AppImage
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: efd55884ad7d40e77571a60c5bb906bbd8d1cbbd
Python version: 3.7.3
Qt version: 5.12.5
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/Australia (en_AU)
I have just noticed if I move the folder containing an assembly, the links to object uses the full file path. For example, see the error in the image below.
Is is possible to use relative paths?
Thanks!
OS: Debian GNU/Linux 10 (buster) (XFCE/xfce)
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.18614 (Git) AppImage
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: efd55884ad7d40e77571a60c5bb906bbd8d1cbbd
Python version: 3.7.3
Qt version: 5.12.5
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/Australia (en_AU)
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
yes, it was reported, it was an App::Link bug that saved path absolute and not relative, and it's fixed now. Please use the latest v0.19 built.
https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD/rele ... g/0.19_pre
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
As a side note, you can fix your old model to use relative paths by simply loading it in its original directory structure into a newer version of FreeCAD, and then saving everything without making any changes. After that it will be possible to freely move/copy your model to some other directory path. At least, that worked for me in the same situation.Zolko wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2019 10:55 pm yes, it was reported, it was an App::Link bug that saved path absolute and not relative, and it's fixed now. Please use the latest v0.19 built.
https://github.com/FreeCAD/FreeCAD/rele ... g/0.19_pre
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
Thank you for those two enhancements. I especially appreciate the Variables tool which I will use from now on for sketches. Now, if we could just get the capability to add Expressions to the variable value?
So, I continued to explore top-down-design or in-context modelling with Assembly4 this week and tried something different by using shapebinders of the master sketch and external references rather than carbon copy. I was wondering if the animation performance would be improved. It was not. It seems all the time is in solving the master sketch for a change in the variable.
This assembly model of an articulating mechanism was built using drawings from a design by Brian Rupnow (2008), similar in complexity to my last project. A few comments regarding the process with a few screenshots:
.
Assembly4 is proving to be an excellent vehicle for top-down-design or in-context modelling. It has become my starting workbench!
Questions for Zolko:
Is there any way to delete Assembly4 Variables?
Can expressions be added to the Variables value?
If anyone has interest in the FreeCAD file of this model please PM me for a Dropbox download link.
OS: Windows 10 (10.0)
Word size of OS: 64-bit
Word size of FreeCAD: 64-bit
Version: 0.19.18778 (Git)
Build type: Release
Branch: master
Hash: f55cf3ef103532c9718c108bd856a4ef06ad49a5
Python version: 3.6.7
Qt version: 5.12.1
Coin version: 4.0.0a
OCC version: 7.3.0
Locale: English/United States (en_US)
"It is a poor workman who blames his tools..."
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
You already can: you can set the value of one variable based on entries from other variables by an ExpressionEngine: right-click in the Properties window and toggle "Show All". You'll see a bunch of new parameters, AND in your variables value field appears on the right the "function" icon with which you can enter an expression. I only tried to divide by 2, I don't know how much it can do.
In this Show-All mode you can also delete variables
OK. I would have many questions, so may-be I'd rather take your offer:ppemawm wrote: ↑Sun Dec 01, 2019 5:47 pm So, I continued to explore top-down-design or in-context modelling with Assembly4 this week and tried something different by using shapebinders of the master sketch and external references rather than carbon copy. I was wondering if the animation performance would be improved. It was not. It seems all the time is in solving the master sketch for a change in the variable.
Could-you please send me by PM a download link to your assembly ?If anyone has interest in the FreeCAD file of this model please PM me for a Dropbox download link.
I'm curious to see how you built your model in the details.
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
Exactly what I needed. Thanks. Quite powerful.
Will do...I am interested in any feedback regarding the proper work flow as the software intends.
"It is a poor workman who blames his tools..."
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
thank-you, very interresting. I wouldn't have done it like that though: I'd rather use a first — static — master sketch at a particular position of the movement, and another — dynamic — master sketch representing the movement, where the movement's parameter is set to be one of the variables in the Variables object. And then, I attach all the LCS to the dynamic master sketch, and then I link the static parts to the dynamic LCS: thus, the parts are not recalculated at each step.
This of course doesn't apply to the spring which needs recalculation at each step, and I think that that is the longest calculation.
I'd be happy to get your feedback on my modifications to your assembly.
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
Quite clever. Now I have a whole new direction to explore.Zolko wrote: ↑Mon Dec 02, 2019 3:20 pm I'd rather use a first — static — master sketch at a particular position of the movement, and another — dynamic — master sketch representing the movement, where the movement's parameter is set to be one of the variables in the Variables object....
thus, the parts are not recalculated at each step....
the spring which needs recalculation at each step, and I think that that is the longest calculation.
Thank you for your time to investigate and improve my model.
I disabled the spring and it cuts the cycle time approximately in half.
"It is a poor workman who blames his tools..."
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
I made an update to the Assembly4 workbench (v0.7.5), which should improve the variable's handling and the animation speed. With that, when I disabled the spring calculation, the movement was in real-time. May-be you could give it a try ?
(what the animation now does is to update the assembly only, the Model, and not the entire document. Thus, parts that are in the same document but are linked into the assembly are not recalculated, only their positions. Except of course for the spring.)
Re: Assembly 4 workbench
Yes, indeed. Much improved. Thanks, again.
That makes an excellent case to add all of the moving parts to the assembly Model as they are created so that clearances and collisions can be conveniently checked with the animator as the design progresses.
"It is a poor workman who blames his tools..."