Line changes to curve while sketching. Why and how to stop it.

Line changes to curve while sketching. Why and how to stop it.

Anonymous
Not applicable
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13 Replies
Message 1 of 14

Line changes to curve while sketching. Why and how to stop it.

Anonymous
Not applicable

When I am drawing for example a hexagon, after I draw two or three sides, the next one changes to a curve automatically and I can't go on any further. Is it something I am touching or pressing my cursor accidentally? The constraints are supposed be automatically in place? Please reply ASAP. Thanks for your help. 

2,053 Views
13 Replies
Replies (13)
Message 2 of 14

swalton
Mentor
Mentor

I suspect you are not releasing the mouse button while moving the mouse pointer.  

 

See the section about arcs here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/inventor-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2014...

Steve Walton
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Inventor 2025
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Message 3 of 14

SBix26
Consultant
Consultant

You can get a tangent arc by dragging from the endpoint of the previous line (endpoint dot turns gray), which is a very useful shortcut; sounds as if you may have done that accidentally?

 

I assume your mention of drawing a hexagon was just by way of example-- I hope you're not actually drawing hexagons by using the Line tool when there's a Polygon tool which defaults to six sides (= hexagon, in case someone reading this doesn't know...).


Sam B
Inventor Pro 2020.1.1 | Windows 7 SP1
LinkedIn

Message 4 of 14

johnsonshiue
Community Manager
Community Manager

Hi! Some users like this "Drag an arc" workflow. But, I personally rarely use it. Like John and Mark mentioned, you want to release the LMB after you pick the point. If you keep it pressed and drag, the tangent arc will appear.

Many thanks!



Johnson Shiue (johnson.shiue@autodesk.com)
Software Test Engineer
Message 5 of 14

Matthew_Policelli
Advocate
Advocate

My drag to draw an arc is no longer working. Like, I long click and it just stays as another line. I really liked this feature and used it all the time and it's frustrating that I can't use it currently.

 

Is there a setting that enables/disables this that I may have accidentally changed?

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Message 6 of 14

andrewiv
Advisor
Advisor

What version are you using?  As far as I know, there is no option it's just how Inventor works.

Andrew In’t Veld
Designer / CAD Administrator

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Message 7 of 14

Matthew_Policelli
Advocate
Advocate

2022.3

 

Maybe it has something to do with my mouse sensitivity? What happens is I start my line, then I click the endpoint. I keep my mouse held down, and drag, and what comes out is another line. I can't get it to change to a curve.

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Message 8 of 14

andrewiv
Advisor
Advisor

Try a different mouse and see if you still have the issue?

Andrew In’t Veld
Designer / CAD Administrator

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Message 9 of 14

Matthew_Policelli
Advocate
Advocate

Oh wait, I think I figured it out.

 

Is Auto Curve only a feature on .ipt's and .iam's? And not on sketches on drawing files?

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Message 10 of 14

andrewiv
Advisor
Advisor

No, I am able to auto-curve on drawing sketches.

Andrew In’t Veld
Designer / CAD Administrator

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Message 11 of 14

Matthew_Policelli
Advocate
Advocate

Oh. Well for whatever reason I am not. Weird. Do you use .idw's or .dwg's? Maybe it doesn't work on .dwg's?

 

Regardless, I think I'm okay as long as it continues to work on parts and assemblies. 🙂

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Message 12 of 14

andrewiv
Advisor
Advisor

I use dwg's so i don't think it matters between idw and dwg.  I did find something interesting, if I start a sketch on the sheet it works fine, but if I have the sketch attached to a view then I'm having the same issue where I can't pull a tangent arc by holding down the mouse button.  @johnsonshiue can you confirm that this is the case and that it is a bug?  I'm using 2024.3.

Andrew In’t Veld
Designer / CAD Administrator

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Message 13 of 14

gianluca_sita
Contributor
Contributor

Personally I hate it

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Message 14 of 14

JDMather
Consultant
Consultant

@gianluca_sita 

Personally I like it.


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