Help Needed: Edits to Sketches not effecting 3D Body - Proper Editing Work Flow

[johntrotto]

I am new to Fusion 360 but working my way through it, for the most part I like it alot, but I seem to have a main issue with going back and editing something.

So I want to make sure I am going about this correctly, and what I should be able to make it so.

Example....

I start with a sketch, lets say a rectangle, 20x30  then I use the extrude/pull tool to make it 10mm tall.

OK, now its a 3D body. But if I go back and edit the sketch of the rectangle, and say, make it 25x30, I close the sketch, and the 3D body is not effected by this change.

Basically I need to know the proper way of doing this, so that I can eaily go back and make changes.

There are ALOT of times that I need to go back and make changes. Especially to dimensions. make something a bit longer, shorter, change a hole size, etc.

[HughesTooling]

It sounds like you have turned off Capture Design History. Right click the top component and select Capture Design History.

Mark

[johntrotto]

I will double check that, but I am pretty sure thats on (I never turned it off)

And I have the history timeline at the bottom of my screen.

I should mention that EVERY SO OFTEN, I have been able to go back in a sketch, change a dimension, and it effect the 3D body, but very rarely.

[HughesTooling]

Can you upload a file, from the file menu select Export enter a file name at the top of the dialog set the file type to f3d and save to my computer. Not sure what you're doing, I don't think I've ever had it fail!

Mark

[johntrotto]

Doing some more testing, I was able to get the sketch to effect the body this time. But ...
I still have odd issues with sketches, such as, I can not move any part of the sketch, no point, no line, circle, nothing, by simply dragging on them like I have seen in videos.
If I right click and select move, that doesnt work either.

The only way I can "move" or change anything for that matter, in the sketch, is to dimension it, and change that dimension value.

Here is a test sketch I am messing with.
http://a360.co/1Q5VM54

I know I have alot to learn, just seems the sketch section gives me the most issues. 

Simple things seem difficult to figure out how to do.

For example, how do I tell it I always want that circle centered within that box?

[HughesTooling]

A couple of points. Sketch1, you can't drag the corners or lines because you have dimensions, I deleted the dimensions and there's no problem dragging lines or the corner points, do you see the same.

Sketch2, when you sketch on a face all the edges of the face are auto projected so there is a parametric rectangle there before you draw anything. The easiest way to keep the circle at the center is to draw a line from corner to corner then as you draw the circle move the pointer along the line until you see the mid point constraint, small triangle.

Also before you go much further see this thread on how to use components and here's a good video on sketching.

Mark

[johntrotto]

Thanks alot, what you said about the dimensions and the diagonal line to place the circle on works.

I just still have a hard time with the sketches, as far as how they relate to the body, and each other.

But, I think that link you posted about Components, and making sure you group things together and organize them in the browser should help me some with that.

I come from a background in 2D AutoCAD, and 3D SketchUp, I am used to things being in my face, and being able to directly adjust and change things.

In Fusion, its a bit different, you have to realize what and where you need to make the adjustment, and how they all relate to each other,  I am still getting a grasp on that.

[HughesTooling · Accepted solution]

One thing to be aware of is if you draw something, for example a line, if the start or end point are on an edge or corner a constraint will be added automatically. If you start a sketch on one of the faces and draw a vertical line, start the line touching the top edge not on the mid or end points. When you have the line try dragging the end points or the line. In this picture you can see a coincident and perpendicular were automatically created, if you select the constraint you can delete it to allow freeing the movement of the line.

I have a lot of experience with AutoCAD and Rhino and you have to unlearn some things but when you get the hang of parametric sketches they are a lot more powerful than the sketch in AutoCAD.

Have you looked at the help on Sketching as well.

Mark