Auto projected constraint geometry.

[jameswVTJ5V]

Hi all,

This is only a minor issue/annoyance and quite possibly me missing something simple but...

When sketching on a model face and dimensioning/constraining to an edge, that edge is auto projected into the sketch. Is there a way this could be projected as construction geometry by default, instead of 'normal' geometry? 

I know I can uncheck projected geometry in the sketch palette but this is problematic if I DO want to project a model feature into the sketch (and the auto projected lines are in the resultant sketch anyway)...

I also know I can manually change the unneeded projected geometry to construction geometry but it would be great if it was construction geometry in the first place!

The reason I am asking is because extruding sketches with lots of unnecessary geometry can sometimes lead to missing small details that need to be included in the extrude etc...

Cheers!

[davebYYPCU]

For all your reasons mentioned, turn off Auto Project.  Manually project only what what you want.

Might help….

[jameswVTJ5V]

Thank you for your response.

Turn off Auto Project where? In preferences...?

[TrippyLighting]

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@jameswVTJ5V wrote:

Thank you for your response.

Turn off Auto Project where? In preferences...?

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Correct! 

[jameswVTJ5V]

Thanks for the quick response.

I did think it was related to Auto Project but the thing is I have had that disabled pretty much since I started using Fusion so thought I was missing something else simple.

Just so I'm understanding correctly, with Auto Project disabled, NO geometry is (or should not be) projected when dimensioning/constraining to a model edge when sketching?

As bit of context I have been using Fusion (for work) for about 6 years and I have used different accounts and on different PC's and this has always been a thing for me (even with Auto Project disabled)...

[davebYYPCU]

Sounds like you are using the first option on that preferences page, there are 2 settings almost the same.

Might help….

[jameswVTJ5V]

Okay...

I have attached a screenshot... I may well be blind to the obvious but this is how I have my design preferences set up.

[laughingcreek]

hmm..weird.  

if 3d sketch is ticked on you will also get an auto project behavior, regardless of preference settings. only thing I can think of.

[jameswVTJ5V]

It is weird... Just to be sure I am not being completely stupid I will upload a screen recording...

[jameswVTJ5V]

Just checking I'm not a complete moron, but is this expected behaviour with Auto Project disabled?

[TrippyLighting]

I tried this on my end, and it "could" be a bug. I am not sure, as there might be some intention behind implementing it this way.

I'll tag @Phil.E 

What seems to be the case is that when you start to dimension and pick a sketch object first, it doesn't allow you to pick the edge of a body as the second reference for the dimension.

If you start the dimension command, then it allows you to pick a sketch object as a second reference.

[laughingcreek]

I've never even noticed that you can auto project edges during dimensioning.  (just not my work flow).  personally, I think if the auto project in preferences is off, then this should be disallowed for dimensioning too. (I wonder if this is a bug/regression?)

I did notice that if you have the construction line toggle turned on in the sketch pallet, then any curves projected b/c of dimensioning will be construction type, but you have to remember to do that first.

[jameswVTJ5V]

I can see that it could be useful to project a reference for the dimension to show how it is constrained should you have the model hidden if/when you edit the sketch further on. If that is part of the functionality it would be useful to have the option to project as construction geometry...

[jameswVTJ5V]

To be honest this has always been a thing for me as far as I can remember, which prompted me to ask if it was possible to have the option of making automatically projected geometry construction only.

You are spot on, it is possible to manually change the projections to construction but it becomes a bit tiresome when you are having to turn it on and off 100s of times a day! And remembering to turn the construction type off when adding another (intentional) part of the sketch!

[laughingcreek]

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@jameswVTJ5V wrote:...it is possible to manually change the projections to construction ...

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if the toggle is on before you do the projections, every thing you project will start off as construction.  you don't have to change it.

yes, is a pain to have to remember to do it.  hot key to toggle is x, which can make it a little less pain full if you're into the keyboard shortcuts. (and d is right next to x on the keyboard!)

I still feel if auto project is off in the preferences, then auto project shouldn't work. even for dimensioning.

[billbedford]

«Is there a way this could be projected as construction geometry by default, instead of 'normal' geometry»

If construction lines are selected in the sketch dialogue before clicking in the project dialogue, the lines will be projected as construction lines.  

[jeff_strater · Accepted solution]

"personally, I think if the auto project in preferences is off, then this should be disallowed for dimensioning too. (I wonder if this is a bug/regression?)"

no, it is not a regression (or technically a bug).  It has ALWAYS been this way, and I agree with you that it should be disabled if autoproject is off.  I created an item for this, and last I heard, it was going to be implemented, but I do not know whether it has or not, or what release it might appear in.  All I know is that I saw some progress on it earlier this year.

[jameswVTJ5V]

Hi all,

Thank you for all your input on this. So I guess for the time being I am stuck with this.

On a daily basis I have to import laser template scans which can contain many, many lines. I have to overlay and modify the geometry (referencing the underlying geometry) to produce coherent production models/drawings/CAM files. Manually toggling between construction and ‘normal’ geometry is just plain annoying as I have to do it countless time through the day. 

So back to my initial query, if this is part of the functionality, it would be great to be able to make all projected geometry be construction by default (in preferences) and then I can choose if I need it to be ‘normal’. Any push to make that a thing would be greatly appreciated!

I’ll mark this as solved. 

Thanks again. 

[Christoph_360]

Hello

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@jeff_strater  wrote:

"personally, I think if the auto project in preferences is off, then this should be disallowed for dimensioning too.

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I don't agree with that, the way it's solved now, I think it's exactly right.

Thanks

Christoph