Setting dimensions equal to 0(zero)?

[samiamucMBPM4]

My team recently witched from using Inventor to Fusion 360.  Among many other features, one thing I miss is being able to set a dimension equal to zero.  In Inventor, I could set a dimension to zero in order to get to lines right on top of each other, or get something aligned perfectly.  I tried to do this in Fusion, but it says it is an invalid input (actually, it turns the 0 red and won't let my use that dimension).  So I've been using 0.0001 instead, but I'd like there to be no room at all.  How can I do this?  Thanks!

[JDMather]

I have used Inventor for nearly 15 years and I never ever used a zero dimension?

Can't you use a Coincident or Colinear constraint?

Project Geometry?

Can you File>Export and then attach *.f3d file where this would be useful?

Can you attach an example Inventor file where zero dimension is preferable to a constraint?

[henrikubbe4438]

I've used Inventor since 2009 and I use zero in dimensions all the time. Many times I need to test different shapes and in this, the best practicew I've found is to set a dimension to zero in order to be able to change it later. To be forced to set a coincident constraint and come back a little while later to delete it would make my work days at lot longer.  Also; a deleted coincident constraint has the irritating tendency to set itself again when I try to pull the line away from the point. I know several workarounds for this, but with a dimension I can just change it from zero and be done.

/Ub

[henrikubbe4438]

On a side note: After I've taken a look at SolidWorks constraint handling the IV:s version makes me want to weep. But that's off topic...

[Hikakiller]

Yes, we get it. You and a 2-3 other trolls show up in every forum about how setting a dimension to 0 is insane and unnecessary.

Fortunately, the world does not revolve around you and other people's use cases and experiences are completely valid. 

[henrikubbe4438]

just a heads up: JDMather knows more about Inventor than I have forgotten, and I've worked with IV since 2008, or thereabouts. If anyone needs help he is one of the first to offer free and workable solutions. Often with a bit of iLogic code  he writes just for you, on the fly. Don't call him a troll, please. Or anyone - it does not add anything to the discussion. 

He and I have different needs for these programs, and I see you and I have both the need for setting a dimension to zero. Let's just be cool with that, OK?

EDIT: Updated to getting closer to Fusion and not as IV focused. The point about respect still stand. 

[HughesTooling]

Just in case anyone's interested there is a workaround where you use the parameter manager to set a size to zero, drawback is you can't set it to zero while creating the dimension.

There is also a problem when you change the zero to a positive size the direction the line will move is random!

So in this simple example, start with d3 = 10

In the parameter manager set d3 = 0

Now set back to 10, probably not what you want!

But you can set minus numbers in the manager. But you do need to be very careful because Fusion dimensions have no positive\negative direction it can flip sides or give inaccurate offsets if the parameter is an equation.