Edge Tracing

[Anonymous]

Okay we have almost all been in the situation where we are trying to trace the edge of a 3D geometry body that the sketch plane is flush with. For example look at this picture:

Now, try to imagine tracing a sketch line/curve over the edges of the bodies in that 3D geometry. You may notice if you have a keen eye that the sections of the circles are actually part of a concentric mix of curvatures. That is, each curve shares the same center. Finding the common center is the only way to trace the edges of these 3D geometry bodies. Now, if fusion 360 had the ability to activate a tool that traced the edge of the 3D geometry that is in contact with the sketch plane then it would really resolve a lot of complications that people run into when trying to trace edges and match curvatures. Photoshop as a magnetic lasso type of tool that tracks edges of colors and so forth. So in the same sort of way I'm thinking it would be good if Fusion 360 could trace surrounding 3D geometries from point to point much like how the arc tool works where you click a center then one point and then draw the line over with your mouse to complete a circular path. Yet, the geometry may often be very complex so the edge tracing ability would have to be intelligent enough to know what plane and edge it is really tracking.

Thoughts? Opinions? Maybe this would be a big improvement to the program. Heck, they are always updating every 2 weeks why not throw this idea in the mix.

[daniel_lyall]

https://help.autodesk.com/view/fusion360/ENU/?guid=GUID-850061C4-71F5-4418-AF9C-F0D232022F9C

[Anonymous]

Project the geometry...right I seemed to have forgotten about that. I don't use project very much so I don't understand it fully but I just did a test of placing a sketch plane on similar 3D geometry and when I used the 'Project' feature it perfectly outlined the edges of the 3D geometry underlying the sketch plane. I guess that answers my question and concerns. I've got to remember to use this feature more often when these kinds of situations arise instead of doing things the hard way lol. Thanks for the tip.

[SolubleSpork]

Be sure to help others by accepting an answer as a solution if it accomplishes what you need.

[Anonymous]

I never find those solutions when browsing forums. They don't make it very
intuitive to recognize which response is the referenced solution of a topic
discussion.

None the less. If someone put in the time to respond in a detailed manner
that effectively explained an answer or solution then I would be glad to
mark their response as a solution. Yet, a simple posting of a link isn't
quite the type of solution related response I would recommend to others
since they might not catch on what the underlying associated knowledge is.

[daniel_lyall]

@SolubleSpork  you can not do that in the idea station you have to be a staff member with the privilege to be able to change stuff in the idea station, all you can do is ask the admin to move it if it is not in the correct spot by using the report post button 

[SolubleSpork]

@daniel_lyall Thanks.  Forgot where I was at in the forums since I've been all over them today.  @Anonymous made some good sense too about detailed solutions and the like.

[daniel_lyall]

@Anonymous Most time when someone is a 7 or above a link is all that is needed if below a proper example is best, it is a guess most of the time.

[Anonymous]

I was thinking about this in a similar way.  I like SketchUp and the ability to begin a Line, then 'trace' an existing line to gain the exact angle to draw a new line matching the existing line angle.  Object Trace Tracking, if you will.