Chapter 19
Call the Parametrics!
IN THIS CHAPTER
Introducing parametric drawing
Understanding constraints
Applying geometric and dimensional constraints
Editing parametric drawings
A decade ago, Autodesk added parametric tools to AutoCAD, and I can’t think of a more significant new feature in recent years. In fact, if you work primarily in 2D, and especially if you’re in the manufacturing business, parametrics in AutoCAD (and, to a very limited degree, in AutoCAD LT) might just be the most significant new feature since the beginning of orthographic engineering drawings, generally attributed to the Roman architect Marcus Vitruvius in the 1st century BC. Contrary to popular opinion, I am not so old that I knew him personally.
Parametric tools allow you to create relationships between geometry and control the size of geometry in drawings. These relationships constrain changes to designs, so parametric tools are also known as constraints. The power of parametrics comes in their capability to quickly generate variations of a design. A single design of, say, a bicycle can be output with ...
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