Constraint selection

[ercox]

Having a hard time understanding which constraint symbol applies to what drawing element.  My drawing gets very cluttered with constraint symbols and when I try to delete it's very difficult to understand what which one to change.  for instance when I find a parallel constraint how can I tell which lines it is referencing?  It's also very difficult to tell if I've selected the constraint of the line.  I just have to delete and undue until I manage to see the right one disappear.

Is there a setting to make the color change when selected and to bold the associated elements in the drawing and or make them a little larger so they are easier to select?

[jhackney1972]

This is a very easy process to do.  Simply hover over the sketch constraint and the lines which it controls will be highlighted in the sketch.  Take a look at the screencast.

[ercox]

the problem I'm having is that my sketches are very crowded with lines, constraints and dimensions.  I cant tell when I'm hovering whither it a line or constraint that is reacting Unless I use the selection filter to only select constraints.  That is a very clumsy process to always be changing the selection filter for what I'm trying to select.  The equal constraints for instance is usually located right on top of the element it is constraining.  The coincident Constraint does not even show up unless you hover over a point.  Please refer to sketch 1 in the attached file.

[jhackney1972]

After looking at your sketches, I would suggest making them simpler.  You can reduce some of your sketch complexity very easily by using feature patterning as your design lends itself to this process very well.  There are numerous other opportunities to reduce your number and complexity of sketches.

[ercox]

Do you have any suggestions for where I can turn for learning opportunities to gain those skills you recommend?

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

I have years of experience with Autodesk Inventor so I just transferred the processes to Fusion 360 command structure.  I also have used the various Fusion 360 help files and YouTube to explore more complicated processes.  There are many tutorials listed under the help drop-down.   You can search the web for help files and tutorials depending on your needs.  I write a blog where I cover articles about both Inventor and Fusion 360 processes.  My blog is Beyond the Drafting Board.  Lars Christensen is also a very good Fusion 360 instructor who has a YouTube channel.

[ercox]

Thank you, I also have many years Autocad and Inventor experience.  I think that the problem I'm having hear is that Fusion doesn't allow quite the same level of customization that Inventor did.  Color, line type, line size.  I was just a little easier for me to see what was going on on my computer screen.  Plus my work computer was a much nicer system than I'm dealing with at home.