Sketch dimension not working

[jibberjack]

Any reason the Sketch Dimension tool is not working and is grayed out? On a Mac with Mavericks.

Thanks, John

[jeff_strater]

If you are not in sketch mode, the dimension tool will be grayed out. If you know you are editing a sketch and it is still grayed out, then that's a bug. Can you try creating a sketch (just start the line tool and pick a plane)? If it still happens, would it be possible to record a short video that could maybe help us figure this out?

Thanks.

Jeff Strater (Fusion development)

[jibberjack]

Thanks, that helps. Now what does it mean when I get the error message "Sketch geometry is over constrained"? Any tutorials that you can point me to about dimensioning and constraints? Newbie here.

Thanks,

John

[MitchDunn]

i have the same problem on a mac.  it started two days ago.  

[TrippyLighting]

It means that you are trying to constrain two sketch elements that are already fully constrained. It would be better to explain on an example.
It would be great if you would create a screencast. Then we can possibly tell you what in your particular situation creates that message.

[jibberjack]

Can you only put a dimension on a sketch object and not a body or component? So not on any 3D object? I've been trying to put dimension on bodies and components so maybe that's the problem I'm running into?

[jeff_strater]

Yes, that is correct. The dimension command (technically the Sketch Dimension command) is only available for dimensioning sketch objects. There is no capability to dimension objects such as bodies or components. You need to control their sizes and positions using other methods (extrude depth for extrude features, Move or Joints for components, etc).

Within a sketch, you can dimension from projections of faces and edges to a sketch object, using the Project command to create the projected geometry in the sketch

Jeff

[jibberjack]

bummer

[TrippyLighting]

I am not really sure why you think that's a bummer. I Have more than two decades of CAD experience and I don't see a limitation there.
Perhaps explain what you are trying to do. A littel narrated screencast with the built in tool in Fusion 360 would greatly help us understand what tou are trying to achieve.
Have you watched the Fusion 360 tutorials ?

[jibberjack]

I want to achieve good communication. I don't think I need a screencast to demonstrate dimensioning a 3D object. 

How many CAD programs have you used that can dimension 3D objects.  Have you used SketchUp? I'm aware of a few other mainstream programs that can dimension 3D objects directly and it seems to be a very useful function.  Don't mean to sound pissy but it seems to me to be a very basic function of a CAD program. 

[TrippyLighting]

Here a littel background on my CAD history. The first CAD program (about 25 years ago) I ever used was a Hewlet Packard system in the University. Then in my first engineering job it was back to the drawing board (shock) and after two years I started with Catia. All of that in 2D.

Tehn I used  (around 1996) that I used a version on AutoCAD LT and simple 3D to generate plant layouts. The first full 3D system I worked with was Solid Works 1998 and I dropped 2D AutoCAD like a hot potatoe. I dont use SW in my current job but privately own a license and use Geomagic Design.  I know enough of Solid Edge and ProE to assess abilities.

Professionally I used to design/develop custom automated manufacturing equipment. Privately I develop and build LED lighting systems and intend to turn that into a business.

I've also used Sketchup to generate models for photorealistic rendering, but have have not worked with it for at least 3 years. My main tool for that is Blender and Indigo Renderer.

No, I don't know any other software than Sketchup where that can be done. Once your geometry gets more complex that looses its appeal pretty quickly. 

[TrippyLighting]

Having thought about it I still don't know what exactly you mean with dimensioning as it can mean differnt things.

Do you want to create or change 3D geometry by entering a dimension and then have the gwometry follow the entered value ?

Or do you want to place dimensions on a finished part to communicate dimensions of the part so it can be manufactured ?

There are two different ways to create geometry in Fusion 360. Direct Modeling (DM) or parametric design. In direct modeling you use push-pull and other tools to modify your body. In Parametric design you use dimensions on Sketches and irtems in the timeline to modify your geometry. 

For communicating designs for manufacturing the standard is still a 2D drawing. That section of Fusin 360 is still very limited but they are working on improvements.

You have referenced Sketchup. A screencast of what you are doing in Sketchup that you cannot achieve in Fusion 360 may be helpful and would be a good example for  "good communication" 😉

[cyclops19]

I can't believe there is no way to get dimensions other than what are referred to as being in sketch mode . If I build a part as I have done and need to know the size I basically have no way of knowing what size it is . The phrase WTF ! is an extreme understatement as far as I am concerned .

I have been working for weeks on a project only to come to the conclusion that it is measuring ( I think as I can Not m"Measure It" ) at meters when I thought I had it all laid out in millimeters but I had no way to check but I may be wrong and it may possibly be drawn out in millimeters but not really sure . It could be meters but possibly may be in Kilometers also but might be drawn out in miles for all I know .

It's as if Fusion 360 was designed with everything except the start button .

I will have to use my shoe to determine if it is measuring in Feet , I will use toes or fingers to determine measurements in metric since metric is in units of ten .

I will then have to calculate my screen size according to pixels and measure my computer screen with my foot and then add that up ....

[cyclops19]

Placing dimension on a part is one thing I have tried but can not find way to do it , also I want to just look at finished parts and see what they are sized at as I have been building one part to fit the first part and then next part to fit second part and so on hoping that they all fit together as one unit in end but as I have been going along I have been trying to find way of checking each parts dimensions but can not find way of doing this , An example is circle that I then extrude , if I try to edit feature it only edits the extrusion and shows no info on circle diameter so i am usually guessing as to which circle I am working on as I have multiple cylinders inside other cylinders . I am basically designing cylinders by eyesight and guesswork because I can not measure their dia , distance between cylinder walls , thickness of individual cylinder walls , etc..
If their is a way and I am just not figuring it out any help would be appreciated .

Top of page shows forum being for Fusion 360 so not sure how I have gotten into Sketchup forum if I am

[TrippyLighting]

1. You're not in the Sketchup forum. Sketchup is not an Autodesk product.
2. You can measure "things" with the "Inspect->Measure" tool.
3. You can also unhide the sketch that was used to create 3D geometry and then right-click on the sketch in the browser and select "Show dimension". Assuming that you dimensioned the sketch properly this not only allows you go gage the size of you objects but also directly modify existing dimensions without having to edit the sketch.

[innovatenate]

I think it might help if you showed some screenshots of what you are trying to do or where you are struggling. The size of a design should be very easy to get correct. If you haven't done so, it may help to start by going through the learning tutorials. 

Fusion 360 is an advanced, but flexible tool. There are top-down design methodologies you can utilize to make sure that your components fit together in a trivial fashion with very high precision. You may want to check out this free class from the Autodesk University website which talks more about Bottom-up vs. Top-down design methodologies

http://au.autodesk.com/au-online/classes-on-demand/class-catalog/2015/fusion-360/cp9991#chapter=0

One thing to note is that the parameters dialog box will give you access to all parameters in a model. Parameters includes things like sketch dimensions and extrude distances, etc... If you are using the time-dependent, parametric modeling capability to build a design from the ground, you can control all the parameters for a design from the Parameter dialog box (see the Modify drop down menu for access). This can enable you to quickly access and modify any given parameter in a design.

Let's take a look at your example:

---

@cyclops19 wrote:

 An example is circle that I then extrude , if I try to edit feature it only edits the extrusion and shows no info on circle diameter so i am usually guessing as to which circle I am working on as I have multiple cylinders inside other cylinders . I am basically designing cylinders by eyesight and guesswork because I can not measure their dia , distance between cylinder walls , thickness of individual cylinder walls , etc..

The Measure tool from the Inspect drop down menu enables the measurement of just about any geometry you desire. The Measure tool is capable of providing the measurement information for all of the items you listed above. If you are having trouble with one, perhaps you could record an Autodesk Screencast of where the tool is failing you?

I strongly suspect the thing that will help you the most is to start creating "base" sketches to help drive your 3D features. Once a sketch has been created, you can go back and make edits to the sketch dimension to update the model if you are using the parametric modeling capabilities. Take a look at the below screencast that highlights using a sketch and user parameters to make a quickly configurable and editable model using the Parametric Mode. I note that you can show and edit the dimensions of the sketch or just quickly glance at the parameters dialog to update a model to a desired size.

I hope that helps!