Creating Ruler for Engraving

[Latheboy]

I am attempting to sketch a ruler .875" in height x 30" long that I would like to engrave on a steel fence of a machine.  I started with the sketched size, then a new sketch with vertical lines .0625 apart and horizontal lines that will represent the lengths of each vertical line once trimmed.  i.e., 1/16", 1/8", 3/16" etc.  I used a rectangular pattern for the vertical lines without issue and then as I added each horizontal line, everything slowed down to a crawl with a lot of "not responding" and eventually catching up.  What am I doing wrong here.  I imagine that there is a better way to sketch a ruler, but I am not familiar enough. Thanks

[Warmingup1953 · Accepted solution]

I see what you mean! Sketch 1 is fine...and you can build on that. All you need to add to that sketch is a very few lines. Keep your Sketch(es) as SIMPLE as possible. How will you create the Ruler in the real world...Laser etch?

Then use this simple sketch to modify (say thin Extrude) The Body of the Ruler then Rectangular pattern those Features (the cuts themselves):

[g-andresen · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Create only one line each vertically and horizontally.
Then create "New Pattern" in the Manufacture Module (Setup).

günther

[Latheboy]

I think I understand your process.  I would like to have the lines on the top of the rule and the bottom as well as numbers every inch, so depending upon the thickness of the material against the fence, the lines can still be seen.  Wondering if you know why it was locking up (slow)?

Thanks,

Steve

[Latheboy]

Hello,

I understand your approach too, makes sense.  I am thinking that it may become difficult to use this method with unique numbers added and not just lines.  I do like the idea though.

Thanks,

Steve

[Latheboy]

@Warmingup1953, I neglected to answer how I plan to engrave.  I love the laser etching idea, but I would need ot send it out for that.  I was thinking of using my CNC Mill which is large enough to traverse the X axis the 30" distance without an additional setup.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

The numbers are created separately in sketch mode.
However, with the line pattern (trace) of approx. 500 instances, you avoid unnecessary calculation times for patterns in sketch mode.

günther

[Latheboy]

Hi again,

So, with this method, the sketch would contain the numbers properly placed on the ruler with only one line horizontal and vertical and the rest is accomplished in the manufacture area?

Thanks..

[g-andresen]

Hi,

---

@Latheboy wrote:

Hi again,

So, with this method, the sketch would contain the numbers properly placed on the ruler with only one line horizontal and vertical and the rest is accomplished in the manufacture area?

Thanks..

---

Just as.

You could also create one unit of @Warmingup1953 representation plus numbers.

I would create a separate sketch for the numbers and use reference points via projection.
This has the advantage that you can select the complete sketch in Browser with numbers completely.

günther

[Latheboy]

Thank you @g-andresen & @Warmingup1953 

[Latheboy]

@Warmingup1953 , I hate to be a pest, but I am really struggling with some basic things.  I can't seem to change the length of some of the lines that you sketched.  It I do succeed, they turn blue even though they have either a dimension or constraint.  I also can't seem to effectively use constraints in this case to accomplish anything.  What are the little hammer shape constraints?  I don't see any constraint icons that look like that. I would like to mirror the initial sketch you did to get the same lines facing upwards from the bottom horizontal line.  When I select that line as the destination, the mirrored copy moves below the line and move/copy seems to do nothing.  Lastly, it was my understanding that if a line is black, it is locked and cannot move.  Why can I grab one of the black lines and move it around. Sorry for all of the questions..

I watch a lot of youtube videos and regardless who is presenting, it looks soooo easy.

Thanks,

Steve

[Latheboy]

Got back to this and laid out the lines that I am looking for prior to doing the rectangular pattern.  Can someone tell me why I can't get the lines black?  I did the first set of lines in the upper left and then mirrored to the right and then down. 

Thanks, Steve

[jhackney1972]

You are missing Horizontal / Vertical constrains on a lot of your sketch lines and you are missing Collinear sketch constrains between the upper lines and the lower set.  You also forgot to dimension the width of the ruler.  Model attached.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

just as @jhackney1972  answers

günther

[Latheboy]

Hi John,

Is there a source that you can suggest where I can learn how to properly do all of this.  I have watched a lot of videos which make it look easy, but I struggle to get the same results with sketching.  Thanks

[Latheboy]

Thanks for the video.  I will study now.  

Steve

[g-andresen]

Hi,

2 important things

1. white dot  =  open vector > undefined

2. pay attention to the horizontal/vertical symbol on lines

günther

[Latheboy]

Hi Gunther,

Thank you for that information.

Steve

[jhackney1972]

I started out by simply clicking on an entity and see if I could drag it in the sketch.  This usually helps get you started finding the missing constraints and dimensions.  Also, ask yourself, have I given enough information to make the part if someone handed it to me.  This question would probably have helped you find the missing width dimension.

[Latheboy]

I watched your video a number of times and followed along with my original sketch.  Learned a lot and some of it sank in.  As I continue to work with Fusion, I imagine I will learn more about the different types of constraints.  Making some progress.  Thanks again, Steve