topic Re: Locating unconstrained elements in Fusion Design, Validate & Document Forum

Locating unconstrained elements

cimbian — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 15:03:54 GMT

Is there a way of seeing which elements (lines / arcs etc.) are not constrained within Sketch?

I know constrained elements are black and unconstrained are blue; however, all my lines remain blue, even though they are constrained either using a constraint or Sketch Dimension.

Steve.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

Beyondforce — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 17:08:28 GMT

Hey @cimbian,

Only Full constrained geometry is Black. If your geometry is still Blue, that means that it's not fully constrained!

Cheers / Ben
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Re: Locating unconstrained elements

cimbian — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 17:20:44 GMT

Thanks..

What I am asking is if there is a way of identifying the specific elements that are NOT constrained so that I can go in and fix them.

Steve.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

Beyondforce — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 17:22:36 GMT

Please attach the file.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

cimbian — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 18:41:46 GMT

I've redrawn it and all seemed well until the automatic constraints disappeared (when I cut parts out of the rectangle using Trim).

As far as I can see it is now constrained using either Sketch Dimensions or a relative constraint.

Clearly I'm missing something.

Thanks for taking a look.

Steve.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

jeff_strater — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 19:04:38 GMT

One small workflow recommendation: You should not very often need to use Trim. I understand the desire to have "clean" sketches, but you can always just add those little cutouts at the corner (I assume that this is the area that you Trimmed), and leave the existing geometry there. Trim will remove constraints and dimensions, which is one reason why I stay away from it.

Jeff

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

cimbian — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 21:59:31 GMT

Thanks for the tip, Jeff.

I've had a bit of a play and it seems that the 2-Point Rectangle even with default (click/drag) dimensions (one dimension gets applied), and then a sketch dimension to the other edge is not constrained but any attempts to add constraints, such as parallel or equal etc. flags up a warning that the sketch is over constrained.

However, doing the same with a Centre Rectangle the sketch becomes fully constrained:

It also has the equal constraints applied automatically.

Steve.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

cimbian — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 22:25:36 GMT

Added a screencast. There is some odd behavior going on... unless it is just me being 'senior'. 🙂

Steve.

EDIT: Screencast didn't attach. http://autode.sk/2vJLe5X

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

davebYYPCU — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 23:19:28 GMT

There is no odd constraining behaviour in the screencast, Fusion is working as expected.

Probably not a Seniors either,

Your question highlights that you were not told or never figured it out,

as said, when every thing is black, it should be fully constrained.

To Test it, click and drag any sketch article if it will move and change something it's not fully constrained yet,

In the screencast you have taught yourself, the last box was on the Origin, and Fusion does the locking for you.

The first two boxes were not dimensioned to the Origin, (the only thing in the sketch at the time that can't move.)

Might help...

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

TrippyLighting — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 23:18:05 GMT

Of course it isn't !

You have told Fusion 360 how big you want the rectangle, but you need to tell it where on the sketch plane you want the rectangle located.

You need to constrain or dimension the rectangle somehow in reference to the sketch origin.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

cimbian — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 13:16:37 GMT

Thanks Guys,

I opted to redraw the item doing the following:

Begin my first shape at the origin
Reference what I could to a point on the original shape when adding shapes
Dimension where I could (probably over-did this)
Use construction lines referenced to a point on the original shape (can I just draw a construction line or do I have to draw and convert each time?)
Some items from the original drawing I have are not referenced to an edge, ie the block going downwards, so this was calculated and constrained to a construction line.
Not use the Trim command

So far, so good.

I know it's a simple task for you fellas but as a newbie it has been 'interesting'. 🙂

Thanks again.

Steve.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

davebYYPCU — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 00:29:53 GMT

Your same sketch, less clutter and Fusion does the hard work,

Some things to make it easier, In the beginning, one sketch per feature makes quick work removes the confusion

So a second sketch for the block under the plate, bit later...

Your part is symmetrical, but you didn't put the Origin in the middle, (Centre Point Rectangle?)

Dimension a rectangle from top corner, and add the circle to it's corner, dimension a rectangle from bottom corner,

Small trick, may not work, can't read your dimensions... works if the block underneath is centred on the corner cut out.

Draw the mirror line base mid point, to cut out mid point high. Make it construction.

Sketch > Mirror the cut out and the circle.

Stop there, extrude the plate.

New Sketch on the face of the plate and block junction...

Project the lowest three edges of the plate into the new sketch, offset the base line twice, extrude the block.

file to read the steps,

Might help....

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

cimbian — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 10:34:03 GMT

Thanks.

It looks like I started-out making life difficult for myself, and this is so much easier. Really appreciate you taking the time to help.

Steve.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 17:58:08 GMT

So I have a similar problem except that it occurred after the last Fusion 360 update and now every sketch, in every file EVER that I have made since installing the program is unconstrained/blue. Everything was fine before the update and is now somehow not fine. I don't really like the idea of redrawing everything since I have already poured months of work into some of my projects but even if I start a new sketch in a new file after restoring Fusion's default settings it's still the same; everything is blue. Any help would be appreciated.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

davebYYPCU — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 18:44:52 GMT

There was an update that changes orange profiles (shading) to blue, now it is normal but

Black lines were not changed, fully constrained black lines, not yet fully constrained, blue lines. Projected lines are dimmer purple.

Might help....

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

chrisplyler — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 19:04:43 GMT

Why is this line black? Sure, one endpoint is constrained to the Origin. Sure, it is constrained Horizontal. But it's length is not defined. So in my mind, it is not FULLY constrained.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

davebYYPCU — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 19:11:33 GMT

Been said before, the white end point is not fully constrained but the line is. Dimension the end point, and the sketch will be locked.

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

TrippyLighting — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 19:21:58 GMT

@davebYYPCU wrote:

Been said before, the white end point is not fully constrained but the line is. Dimension the end point, and the sketch will be locked.

Correct!

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

chrisplyler — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 16:08:35 GMT

@davebYYPCU wrote:
Been said before, the white end point is not fully constrained but the line is. Dimension the end point, and the sketch will be locked.

Sure, I understand that. And I know that this is Fusion's normal behavior. But it doesn't make logical sense to me. If one endpoint of a line is not fully constrained, then neither is that line FULLY constrained. Other sketch elements don't turn black when they're partially constrained, so why do lines?

Re: Locating unconstrained elements

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:18:32 GMT

Maybe? To add a bit of context, I'm still fairly new to both CAD and Fusion so I'm not always certain of what I'm looking at. Attached is an example of a file I want to send to a friend to have 3D Printed and apparently it's all unconstrained and therefore not really useable? I've tried adding dimensions to lock everything in but I just get the Overconstrained Warning. Hoping a more experienced set of eyes can point out what's wrong here.