simple design with multiple things going wrong!

[Anonymous]

link to design: http://a360.co/1Tcz0u5

(design state is after steps 1-5 below but does not include edit in step 6 since that breaks the model)

I started a new design and finding it behaving in several buggy ways. Not sure what it going on. All editing was done by first creating empty components and doing all editing in the currently active component.

1) I extruded the "base" component and then used a sweep to put a bead along some edges. OK so far.

2) I created a work plane, created a new component "panel", and started a sketch in this activated component on the workplane. Still OK.

3) In the sketch I projected some edges to use as construction geometry and then offset the projected lines (actually line and arcs). First problem: Although the offset lines are fully defined (cannot be moved) they appear in blue instead of black. F360 does not seem to know that they are fully defined.

4) I added some circles that are coincident to the offset lines. Second problem: again, they are fully defined but appear in blue instead of black.

5) I changed the offset lines to construction geometry. Third problem: If I make any edits (e.g change a circle diameter) then these lines go back to being normal geometry. This seems intermittent - the problem comes and goes as I add things to the sketch!

6) I wanted to lengthen the "base" so I activated this part and reedited the first sketch - changing the length from 7" to 8". Fourth problem: When I stop this sketch the part becomes messed up. The simple, fully defined sketch for the sweep has updated incorrectly. one arc endpoint has become detached but still acts like it is attached and so cannot be moved. Of course the dependent "panel" sketch does not update correctly either.

Here are the before/after sketches for the sweep. I can fix the right hand one by extending the arc but then, if I change the component length again the sketch goes crazy in a different way. Also note that the top arc ( the original) becomes unconnected but the bottom (mirrored) one is still connected. Very odd.

This is very concerning because this is a design a planned to use to demonstrate F360 to some students. I tried to follow best practices in a very simple design and the result is something that would make the students very nervous about using this program. Am I doing something wrong? Any suggestions appreciated!

[TrippyLighting]

This should work. Somehow that evil mirror constraint is interfering with things and not working as expected. I'd delete it and duplicate the geometry another way.

Attached is how I'd do it.

Also, a Kudos is due for sharing the screensots and .f3d!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for reply. Your solution works and it also seems to cure the other problems (which have no apparent connection).

I also found another fix: I moved the sketch plane from the Front plane to the surface of the existing body that is co-planar with the Front plane. I had to recreate the sketch to get it to work. The difference is that F360 now infers the edge geometry of the face rather than my having to use the Project/Include tool. I have not seen anything about this in the documentation! When I did this the geometry mirrored correctly.

Interesting if this is the prefered way to build models. In Solidworks I had learned to place sketches on to the three standard planes when possible to minimize the length of dependency chains. Maybe the better approach in F360 is to make a "base" body and try to put all subsequent sketches on that instead?