validate constraint join all lines up

[mcnicollchris]

hi there ive just been drawing up a quick sketch for a set of yokes (triple trees) for a project and i notice that not all my lines are joined up, now i have extruded this and exported to stl file so i can 3d print a test but id like to know the best way to make sure i join everything together so that i can export a good dxf file for the centroid milling system please?

thanks in advance

[laughingcreek]

This would be easier to demonstrate with the fusion file.  you can export it as a .f3d and attach to a post. 

[mcnicollchris]

thanks here it is @laughingcreek 

[laughingcreek]

You might want to define what you mean by "joined up".  One thing I've noticed is that there are many different ideas about what it means for sketch items to be "joined up", those ideas mostly being influenced by other software someone might have used.

In fusion, you don't "join" sketch entities together. You use constraints and dimensions.

The sketch in the fusion file you posted doesn't have any constraints. It's as if you imported it from a DXF instead of creating it in fusion.

can you post the fusion file where you actually created this sketch instead?

[mcnicollchris]

yes it was imported as a dxf, so im looking to have the constraints so we can model it correctly.

thanks

chris

[jhackney1972]

The purpose of using an exported DXF file is to get a jump on design using existing "accurate" geometry".  The Screencast outlines what I would do to normalize the sketch so it is in the correct position, in relation to the Origin, and keep it from being "accidentally" edited.  I believe you are wasting your time adding sketch constraints to geometry you should be trusting.  If there are sections you will be editing, do not use the Fix constraint on that part of the sketch but use the standard sketch constraints to stabilize it along with any new sketch geometry.

[mcnicollchris]

hi there, i have had a play and have the dimensions as i want them now, how easy is it to make this into a gcode now for a milling operation?

[mcnicollchris]

hi john, thanks for the reply. what i am trying to do is use the drawing and dimensions i have which are correct now i have adjusted them.

 i have exported now as a dxf ready to use in the centroid mill but when i do so it doesnt bring up a continuous line/ outline so we are having to select every individual line and chain them together.

[jhackney1972]

i downloaded the last F3D file you have posted, Saved it as a DXF and opened it up in AutoCAD.  I show all of this is a Screencast.  As you can see the outline is a continuous line as well as all other lines, and circles which I did not touch in the Screencast. If I import it back into Fusion360 and check it inside the Manufacturing Environment, the lines also select as one entity when setting the tool path.