topic Re: Struggles with Constraints in Fusion Support Forum

Struggles with Constraints

BaronTC — Sun, 10 May 2020 22:23:47 GMT

Auto constraint is driving me kinda nutty, and I can't figure out a way to allow the cursor to 'snap' but to not add a constraint. Also, when I want to delete *all* constraints, there seems no easy way to do it, and then beyond this, once done, to know that it has been done. Here is an example of how the 'Delete Constraint' menu item is available even when (I'm pretty sure) there isn't, and never was, a constraint on either the two end points, nor the line itself.

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Re: Struggles with Constraints

BaronTC — Sun, 10 May 2020 22:22:50 GMT

Also, here is one where I want to select *all* constraints, but using the selection tool, it is not possible.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

jeff_strater — Sun, 10 May 2020 23:44:58 GMT

set your selection filter to look like this:

then, window select will only select constraints. Don't forget to set it back afterwards, or you won't be able to select anything else.

To stop constraint inferencing (which I assume is what you mean by "auto constraint"), hold down CTRL (CMD on Mac). No constraints will be inferred. But, there is no "snap without constraints". Fusion is a constrained sketcher, that's just its nature.

I'm curious about why you think constraints are bad. I find them to be indispensable when creating a design that you want to modify at some point.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

jhackney1972 — Sun, 10 May 2020 23:49:43 GMT

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why you want to remove constraints or not allow them to automatically apply. All sketches in Fusion 360, with the exception of a few splines, should be fully constrained. If you did not have endpoint constrains added automatically you would have an unbelievable time keeping your sketch together. In my Screencast I show you how to "prevent" automatic sketch constraints from being applied on a pick by pick process (Hold the Ctrl key) and I also show you how to remove coincident constants by right click near the endpoint of a line.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

BaronTC — Mon, 11 May 2020 19:01:18 GMT

Thanks, Sure, but the issue I have here is that not all of the constraints are visible and so do not seem to get selected. I have to go in one by one by one, hovering over each after it appears and then try to discern which of the lines went slightly darker blue so I can choose what to detach.

I'm not saying that auto-constraining is bad, I'm just saying that it is incredibly hard and very time consuming to go in a remove just one of the constraints. It is not at all easy to figure out which point is constrained with which line. Sometimes I have to pull them all apart just to get the one out that I want because the points are all stacked on top of each other.

Also, wrt...

> But, there is no "snap without constraints". Fusion is a constrained sketcher, that's just its nature.

Constraint and snap are two different things. I want to be able to put the start of one line EXACTLY on the end of another, but I do not want it to be hooked up to that line. I want the cursor to 'snap' the position of by point, but I want the option to NOT add a constraint when it snaps. Right now I have to freewheel it which is totally not accurate OR snap, and then dig around, hovering and highlighting until I find the thing I want to delete.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

BaronTC — Mon, 11 May 2020 19:17:20 GMT

Thanks John, Here is another example. Does it make sense what I'm saying, that there is no way to know if a line is constrained or not by the menu item?

Re: Struggles with Constraints

jhackney1972 — Mon, 11 May 2020 19:36:22 GMT

No, I am afraid you do not make a lot of sense to me. Sketches must end up fully constrained or you will have issues, not only in the bodies but also in the components using the bodies. I as told you, you can guess at the intersection of two lines or you can allow the coincident constrain to occur and then remove it as I showed you with the right click menu. Remember you can hold the Ctrl key down while selecting points and all sketch constraints are disabled. Also I you can tell when two lines do not have a coincident constrain between them very quickly. In the screen capture below, the small white circle, on the left, indicates that the lines are not connected and the absence of the small white circle, on the right, indicates that they are.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

BaronTC — Mon, 11 May 2020 20:04:00 GMT

Here is another example screencast of why I want to snap but not constrain.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

jhackney1972 — Mon, 11 May 2020 20:22:08 GMT

Both of your Screencast did not attach. This sometimes happens on the forum. I would suggest to always add a "link" to the Screencast also, then your viewers will be sure to see it.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

BaronTC — Tue, 12 May 2020 03:57:21 GMT

Sorry, John. Here it is...

https://screencast.autodesk.com/Embed/Timeline/054e4312-db68-4fe6-9c08-0e3ef8835cc6

Re: Struggles with Constraints

davebYYPCU — Tue, 12 May 2020 04:17:05 GMT

I agree with John, all sketches should be fully constrained, especially if using parameters, constraints save half the time and effort to get them that way.

and the video makes no sense of what you want, and what you don't.

Please explain.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

TheCADWhisperer — Tue, 12 May 2020 12:08:41 GMT

@BaronTC

What are you attempting to model?

Can you post image or link to something similar in that already exists in the real world?

I watched your videos and I think there are techniques that will significantly simplify your design process and eliminate all frustration once and for all time.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

BaronTC — Thu, 14 May 2020 16:46:18 GMT

Sorry for the delayed reply. I recorded a longer explanation. I hope this helps.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

TheCADWhisperer — Thu, 14 May 2020 17:23:03 GMT

What are you attempting to model?

Can you find something in the real world that is similar to your Design Intent and Attach or link to image?

Re: Struggles with Constraints

BaronTC — Thu, 14 May 2020 18:00:26 GMT

You've asked this a couple times but I haven't answered because this isn't an issue with 'one thing I want to model'. This is a general issue with the software and the fact that constraints are not easy to manage and the UI is often inaccurate.

Almost all of the time the constraints that get created are exactly right and I use them just like everybody else and I don't need to care what the state of the white dot is or which un-highlighted iconography is related to which sketch object, but there are always cases I find, when I'm designing, printing and adjusting things where I want to use exact measurements, but without wanting the objects to be connected (constrained). Right now it is not possible to do this because 'snap' and 'auto-create-constraint' are bound together.

I just want to be able to snap to an existing point (at say x:3 y:4) and then be able to hold the command key down, click and create a new point that is also at x:3 y:4, but that is not constrained to the original point.

Re: Struggles with Constraints

davebYYPCU — Thu, 14 May 2020 20:55:39 GMT

A few things, having watched the last video, you made,

Your sketch is not fully constrained, at the time you start the video.

Your original boxes are dragged all over the screen, destroying your unknown measurement.

you want to make a line / shape that is going to later be moved,

The fix for your scenario.

Do it in 2 sketches.

Finish the original sketch as required,

new sketch, Project your 4 corner points from sketch 1 to sketch 2, (without keeping the link)

Hide Sketch 1. Connect the dots and take it away.

Just a work flow thing, that you show us doesn’t work in one sketch,

Might help....