Creating lines and their relationship to axes

[Anonymous]

Hello, fellow Fusion 360-ers!

I have a question for everyone:

Fusion 360 noob and new to computer design in general. Also new to asking questions on fora, so please be patient with me! I also searched before posting, and I couldn't fins a similar question or applicable relevant information

I studied engineering nearly twenty years ago, and perhaps a lot has changed since then, so please forgive in advance for the basic nature of this question.

My question is: I would like to create a design with the origin (0, 0) as the center of it, and I would like to create a line that is bisected by the y-axis. Yet, I go to create a line, and I have no idea whether or not it is centered on the axis, nor can I move its midpoint to it. I can get a midpoint to appear by hovering over it while holding shift, but then I can't do anything, and when I attempt to offset it, it won't move. Conceptually, I have a hard time accepting that I can design or draw something with an arbitrary (0, 0), I mean, of course, it is certainly possible, and the object can exist just fine without it.

I can create two parallel, equal lines, but they aren't where I need them to be!

In short, is there a way to assign axis-relative values to the endpoint of a line, e.g. (-25.5, 14.5) (25.5, 14.5)? Also, is it possible simply to reflect a line over an axis? I'm sure that there is something very simple I am missing, and I thank everyone in advance for patience and willingness to assist. I can see the power of the program, and I am excited to become proficient, and a big thank you to Autodesk for allowing us all to benefit  as a collective in allowing our creativity to access their platform.

Cheers,

Alden

[SaeedHamza]

This is a very basic thing in F360

For the move tool, there is a Point To Position move type in the move dialog box

As for centering you're design in a way that the center is at the middle of it, I can't quite understand why you want that

As you said, you're still new to F360, so the thing that you're trying to achieve might be approached differently in F360, so I suggest you attach what you're trying to create, and then we can show you the best process on how to start and how things go.

The first project you make on F360 will give you a good idea on how things are done in it, but before that I recommend you watch some tutorials ( basic ones ) to help you get started

Best of luck

[etfrench]

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@photogtags wrote:

My question is: I would like to create a design with the origin (0, 0) as the center of it, and I would like to create a line that is bisected by the y-axis. Yet, I go to create a line, and I have no idea whether or not it is centered on the axis, nor can I move its midpoint to it. I can get a midpoint to appear by hovering over it while holding shift, but then I can't do anything, and when I attempt to offset it, it won't move. Conceptually, I have a hard time accepting that I can design or draw something with an arbitrary (0, 0), I mean, of course, it is certainly possible, and the object can exist just fine without it.

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You can draw the line at any random position, length, or angle, then position with constraints and dimensions:

Parallel lines can be created using the Offset tool or with constraints and dimensions.

[lichtzeichenanlage]

All the different constrains in one video:

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for this! I found this very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, Saeed!

My apologies for the very delayed response: I have two other jobs and a 17 month old child, so you can imagine how little time I actually have to myself to pursue avocational things. My response was mostly delayed, however, as I wanted to put thought into it. Specifically, what I found most helpful about your answer was that, especially since some time has passed since your response to my question, I've noticed that it has completely changed my thinking. Whereas before, I would be frustrated and react with a "why won't this do what I want" attitude, and now, I come to it with a "how can I learn how this works so I can accomplish what I need." And THAT has been such a wonderful thing to experience. As I continue to learn by falling, there will be frustration as is understandable with something this powerful, complicated, and very new to me. But I have a much healthier and productive attitude now.

Briefly, from one tutorial, I learned that I can create a point, then add it to a line with the constraint as a midpoint, and then it snaps to an axisnor coordinate line and satisfies my symmetry OCD. And that really only comes from my fear that if I don't have things lined up exactly, then the object won't print with the tolerances I need. It's a fairly small part with two static members, but a gasket will need to be placed between them, so I need for it them fit exactly.

Even better than helping with a task, you helped change a whole person! Thank you again for your timeliness. I also had no idea there were so many tutorials on youtube. That is my go-to now when I hit a cognitive obstacle.

I hope all has been well, and I am thoroughly impressed and excited about this program as well as its community.

All the best.

-Alden