How to Display Hidden Dimensions

[Anonymous]

I have been using Fusion 360 for about a year and am able to complete most projects.

One of the most frustrating features is when I need to reposition sketch objects.

I try to add a dimension to verify a position and get a message "adding this dimension will over contrain the sketch". But I can see no other dimension and can find no way to display the hidden dimension.

My work around is to Delete the object and redraw it.

It would be more efficient if the object could just be moved by editing the hidden dimension, if only there was a way to get it to display.

[TrippyLighting]

There are not "hidden" dimensions. The sketch is simply over constraint by other means.

Can you share a design where this is the case ? I'd like to take a look a it.

[TheCADWhisperer]

What geometry constraints are you using?

[Anonymous]

Yeah I suspected that, but then how to find and change the constraint.

For example trying to move the hole on a filament spool holder closer to the base.

Adding a dimension results in the over constrained message.

First time doing this. Its not showing in preview, but I hope the attached a screen capture image displays ok.

[TheCADWhisperer]

File>Export and then Attach your file here.

[Anonymous]

The file is messed up quite a bit, but is just as an example.

Need to move the hole on the vertical plate about 20 mm closer to the base.

I know the constraints have geometric icons, but there no constraint that I can see that determines the position of the hole.

[TheCADWhisperer · Accepted solution]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The file is messed up quite a bit, but is just as an example...

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Knowing this fact - I recommend that you start over from scratch.

I would never let one of my students proceed beyond Sketch1 as an underconstrained sketch.

This is the foundation of your entire part and it is shaky.

I am not surprised that the Timeline is indicating multiple issues.

Q.  Could the sketch circle position in Sketch3 be a function of the position of the circle in Sketch2?

Coincident Constraints are Hidden

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have been using Fusion 360 for about a year ….

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A year?  Have you gone through the Tutorials?

I recommend that you create only one sketch and then post asking questions.

Proceed to next step and ask questions again.

Do this step-by-step through a project.

We can do this with one of your completed projects if you would like to see alternative modeling techniques.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I definitely need to be more systematic. Coming to Fusion from a 2D background does not help.

I have not bothered with constraints too much as the models have been doing are quite simple.

Problem is I do not recall how the hole was initially positioned.  Its easy enough to start again!

[TrippyLighting · Accepted solution]

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@TheCADWhisperer wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have been using Fusion 360 for about a year ….

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A year?  Have you gone through the Tutorials?

I recommend that you create only one sketch and then post asking questions.

Proceed to next step and ask questions again.

Do this step-by-step through a project.

We can do this with one of your completed projects if you would like to see alternative modeling techniques.

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@Anonymous  I wish more new users would heed that advise above. It is surprisingly easy in Fusion 360 to get quite far along in a project using inappropriate workflows and techniques only to discover that the project is broken and has to be started from scratch. 

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

No just jumped straigth in creating models! I might have had a quick look at the tutorials at the start, but did not persist. I think knowing the interface and potential pitfalls, the tutorials will be more beneficial. Thanks for your replies.

[TheCADWhisperer]

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@Anonymous wrote:

1. Yes, I definitely need to be more systematic.

2. Coming to Fusion from a 2D background does not help.

3. I have not bothered with constraints too much as the models have been doing are quite simple.

4. Problem is I do not recall how the hole was initially positioned. 

5. Its easy enough to start again! 

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1. Through observation of hundreds (thousands) of students going through my classes  over the last 25 yrs - I have found that the best quality, and the fastest are the most systematic.  The notion that quality is achieved at the expense of speed is a false notion in my experience.

2. I came to 3D from many many years in drawing board and AutoCAD 2D. I do not understand this statement.

3. If I create a circle it is fully constrained.  If I create a line it is fully constrained.  If I create a rectangle it is fully constrained.  Can't get much simpler than that.

4. A year of experience - you should instantly recognize that.

5. It surprises me how many users are reluctant to start over on a design.  (Secret just between us - do not share:  I consider my first (or 2 or 3) attempt(s) to be just an exercise in understanding the geometry.  The files that I attach here as exemplars of how I might model something are almost never my first attempt.  Please don't tell anyone else this secret - they think I know more than I really do.)

[Anonymous]

I just had a look at the tutorials and know now why I did not do them! There are just so many!

It looks like the "Coming from Tinkercad, is probably the one for me.

5. I dont feel so bad now. It really helps understanding the geometry and the design objective, so starting over is very good advice.