topic Re: Dimension to actual (not apparent) intersection of lines in sketch in Fusion Support Forum

Dimension to actual (not apparent) intersection of lines in sketch

melderNMVKB — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 14:52:52 GMT

Is there any way to create a sketch dimension where one or both of the extension lines comes from an actual intersection of lines (be they construction or object lines)? I would like to put a dimension at the intersection of two lines instead of creating a third line and dimensioning to that. This should be a simple fix but Fusion doesn't seem to recognize intersections the way it should. I don't understand why a user can't snap to an intersection. Showing my age, but the old versions of Autocad back in the 90's didn't even have this problem. Why does a modern version of CAD software not easily recognize intersections?

Re: Dimension to actual (not apparent) intersection of lines in sketch

jeff_strater — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 15:50:45 GMT

I'm assuming that you are referring to the sketch dimension in the Design workspace (not the Drawing workspace). Sketch dimensions need an actual object to dimension to, so you will need a point at the intersection. Add it, looking for the "X" inference (indicating the intersection).

"Showing my age, but the old versions of Autocad back in the 90's didn't even have this problem. Why does a modern version of CAD software not easily recognize intersections?"

AutoCAD is for drawings (documenting the design), in CAD sketches, the sketch dimensions are driving the design, which is why it needs actual entities to dimension to. You can still create dimensions to intersections in the Fusion Drawing workspace.

(view in My Videos)

Re: Dimension to actual (not apparent) intersection of lines in sketch

TheCADWhisperer — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 16:36:44 GMT

@melderNMVKB

Can you Attach an example *.f3d file here?

I dimension sketches to both apparent and actual intersections all the time.

(Works the same as Parametric Dimensions in AutoCAD.)

Re: Dimension to actual (not apparent) intersection of lines in sketch

melderNMVKB — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:15:27 GMT

I am wanting to put a dimension from the base of the triangle to the intersection of the hypotenuse and the rectangle's side. I will probably have to put in a point, first, according to Jeff.

Re: Dimension to actual (not apparent) intersection of lines in sketch

melderNMVKB — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:16:54 GMT

Thank you.

Re: Dimension to actual (not apparent) intersection of lines in sketch

TheCADWhisperer — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 18:54:06 GMT

@melderNMVKB wrote:
I am wanting to put a dimension from the base of the triangle to the intersection of the hypotenuse and the rectangle's side. I will probably have to put in a point, first, according to Jeff.

I recommend that you constrain to the Origin too to fully define your geometry in space. See Attached file.

Edit: I wasn't sure if you wanted the vertical dimension or aligned dimension.

Few people are aware of Parametric dimensioning in AutoCAD...

...but AutoCAD will not even allow dimension to the point or to intersection. Note that Intersection is grayed out for parametric dimension.

Have to trim to parametrically dimension to endpoints.