topic Re: Offset Sketch in Z Axis in Fusion Support Forum

Offset Sketch in Z Axis

ssashton — Thu, 23 May 2019 14:31:50 GMT

Hi,

Is there a quick way to offset a sketch object in the Z-Axis?

I know I can create an offset plane, start a new sketch and project the existing item. It would be nice is I could use the offset feature to make it easier.

I was going to loft an item (beer keg) and measured the center line at each of the points the shape changes. However where the shape changes there are actually 30mm wide bands. So I wanted to duplicate the sketch object +/- 15mm in Z, like my photoshoped image here.

Re: Offset Sketch in Z Axis

seth.madore — Thu, 23 May 2019 14:29:33 GMT

It would depend when they were created. If you right click on the sketch in the Design tree or the timeline, you will see an option to "redefine sketch plane". That might get you what you are looking for..

Re: Offset Sketch in Z Axis

jeff_strater — Thu, 23 May 2019 15:33:24 GMT

@ssashton - you can definitely do this all in one sketch, with the Move command. It's a neat little parlor trick. Personally, I would not do it that way, though, because you will lose the ability to easily change the Z offset of each profile by tweaking a parameter. IMO, it's worth the pain now to make subsequent editing easier later. But, if you really want to do it that way, here is how you do it. I have no idea why that one circle refused to budge, I suspect it was constrained to the origin (which cannot move), but you get the idea:

Re: Offset Sketch in Z Axis

HughesTooling — Thu, 23 May 2019 16:39:29 GMT

Have to say my preferred method for something like this would be draw a cross section and revolve. It would all be in one sketch you could drive parametrically. Probably just as quick to draw and you'd have a good idea how it's going to look in the sketch.

Mark

Re: Offset Sketch in Z Axis

ssashton — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 13:51:03 GMT

Thank you Jeff. I think my objects were probably constrained too, which is why I couldn't move them. Worked next time I tried!

Re: Offset Sketch in Z Axis

g-andresen — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:40:24 GMT

Hi,

Did you realize that @HughesTooling recommended a simple solution that offers maximum control?

günther

Re: Offset Sketch in Z Axis

ssashton — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:51:50 GMT

Yes thank you. Revolve would have been a better choice but my mechanical mind thought in terms of loft as that is how I was measuring the real world item. Anyway the job is done and goal achieved! FYI it's only hobby use and very nice beer resulted, drinking it now 🙂

I used the redifine plane option, but it's nice to know I actually can move Z in sketch mode which I wasn't managing before.