Catia Formula Error

[damping]

I have 5 parameters setup. 3 of those parameters are constants. One of them multiplies the 3 constant parameters together. The last parameter divides the afore mentioned parameter by a constant. The parameter that divides throws an error.

All constants are "Length" as are the parameters that perform multiplication and division. The parameter that multiplies works just fine. I can't figure out why it won't divide.

 

[damping]

Trying to work around the above issue, I am trying to use the Rectangular Pattern in the Part Design workbench.

I am using the spacing and length parameter, and am using a parameter/formula for both the spacing and the length. It lets me use the parameter to define the spacing, but I cannot use a parameter to define the length.

Anyone know why or how to work around this?

TIA

 

[MrCATIA]

Damping,

The error message is telling you there is a problem with units being incompatible. You have to pay attention to units (or parameter type) when you add a parameter.

If you have Length.1 * Length.2, the result is an area with units of mm² (this is not a length)

If you have Length.1 / Length.2, the result is unitless (this is not a length, it's a real number)

If you multiply 3 Length parameters, the result is a volume with units of mm³

If you need more help with your parameters, please send a description of what the 5 parameters are.

 

[MrCATIA]

Trying to work around the above issue, I am trying to use the Rectangular Pattern in the Part Design workbench.

I am using the spacing and length parameter, and am using a parameter/formula for both the spacing and the length. It lets me use the parameter to define the spacing, but I cannot use a parameter to define the length.

Parameters can be used with Patterns.

Spacing options must be specified with Length type parameters

Instance options must be specified with Integer type parameters

added later:

however, the Length option cannot be defined with a parameter according to the Help documentation

 

[damping]

Damping,

The error message is telling you there is a problem with units being incompatible. You have to pay attention to units (or parameter type) when you add a parameter.

If you have Length.1 * Length.2, the result is an area with units of mm² (this is not a length)

If you have Length.1 / Length.2, the result is unitless (this is not a length, it's a real number)

If you multiply 3 Length parameters, the result is a volume with units of mm³

If you need more help with your parameters, please send a description of what the 5 parameters are.

Parameters can be used with Patterns.

Spacing options must be specified with Length type parameters

Instance options must be specified with Integer type parameters

Thanks for the suggestions. I went back and simplified things just to test the above. What I did was, I made two parameter, both "Length". No mathematical operations were done on the parameters, I just assigned a value to each parameter. I get the same error message when using the rectangular pattern. When using the spacing and length definition, the instances are not user-input, rather, it's calculated based on the user defined spacing and length.

So....both parameter are of "Length" with no mathematical operations done on either, yet I still cannot assign a parameter to the "Length" of the rectangular pattern. Same error message as before. Any suggestions?

TIA

 

[MrCATIA]

(I apologize for not reading your second post more closely)

This time I followed your example of using the Space & Length option for a rectangular Pattern, and it didn't work. I had the same problem as you.

I was able to use a parameter for Spacing, but it won't let me specify a parameter for the Length. Just as you said.

Looks like you found a software bug, which you probably should turn in to Dassault or your local VAR.

(I'm using R15 - which release are you using?)

As a workaround: I did notice that I can use a parameter for Instances. So you could use the Instances & Spacing method to get the same results. Just add a new parameter (type = REAL or INTEGER) and add a formula to calculate the number of instances based on the total length divided by spacing length. see my attachment

 

[MrCATIA]

Damping,

I looked in the online Help and found this little info note. I'm not sure why they did this, but it is intentional - not a software bug.

 

[damping]

Mr. Catia, thanks for your help, got it to work using your workaround. Kind of weird that Dassault didn't allow formulas to define the length. ??? oh well.