can’t offet sketch

[Asmodeus]

hi, i'm fairly new to wildfire 2.0 and i'm still learning the in's-and-out's of a complex program like this, but i have to ask this particular question since i can't seem to find an answer to it or i'm looking in the wrong place... but here is my situation, i start a new part, i start a new sketch and i start sketching all of my elements for a fairly simple curved part with some radii and arc intermixed within some horizontal lines... now, i need to offset those sets of sketch elements by 1 inch... i've checked everything and there won't be any short radii or anything like that, but the offset sketch icon is grayed out and i don't know why...

i've rebuilt this base sketch several times thinking that i haven't constrained or dimensioned it properly, but i have and the offset icon is still grayed out... can anyone help me with this little situation to get over my learning curve hump...?

thanks...

 

[megaladon]

if your doing the whole perimeter do it by selecting loop first right click through til you get the perimeter you want by selecting individual lines you may be leaving a tiny gap somewhere


if possible zip up & upload part and we can give a better answer

 

[Miko]

Hi Asmodeus. Where did you "start a new sketch" exactly? Are you talking about Sketch in Style module ? if yes ...just create some offset datum plane and place your sketch again on the second datum plane.If your sketch is some texture placed onsome surfaceor datum plane then repeat it again on the second plane...
Edited by: Miko

 

[compujas]

It sounds to me like you are trying to use the "Create entity by offsetting edge" button in Sketch mode. That button is for offsetting an existing feature edge, not a sketch entity. To use that you must have a feature already created. If you are trying to create in the same sketch, a copy of what you already have, I think the only way to do it is either by copying all of the entities you want and positioning them properly, or just simply create another set the same way you did the first time (ie. draw another line and constrain it parallel to the first with a dimension between them).

If I'm not understanding you correctly, then I apologize, and you may need to clarify the problem.


Edited by: compujas

 

[Asmodeus]

if your doing the whole perimeter do it by selecting loop first right click through til you get the perimeter you want by selecting individual lines you may be leaving a tiny gap somewhere


if possible zip up & upload part and we can give a better answer

this is the first sketch of the part and no features have been created from it yet... and i'd love to zip up and send it to you guys to look at, but my NDA won't let me... sorry...

 

[Asmodeus]

Hi Asmodeus. Where did you "start a new sketch" exactly? Are you talking about Sketch in Style module ? if yes ...just create some offset datum plane and place your sketch again on the second datum plane.If your sketch is some texture placed onsome surfaceor datum plane then repeat it again on the second plane...

i started the new sketch in part mode and it is my first sketch without any features created yet...

 

[Asmodeus]

It sounds to me like you are trying to use the "Create entity by offsetting edge" button in Sketch mode. That button is for offsetting an existing feature edge, not a sketch entity. To use that you must have a feature already created. If you are trying to create in the same sketch, a copy of what you already have, I think the only way to do it is either by copying all of the entities you want and positioning them properly, or just simply create another set the same way you did the first time (ie. draw another line and constrain it parallel to the first with a dimension between them).

If I'm not understanding you correctly, then I apologize, and you may need to clarify the problem.

yeah, that's right i'm trying to offset a set if sketch entities to create my first feature... is there a command that will let me offset these sketch entities at all, or am i stuck trying to reproduce the offset by hand...? my sketch is getting a little more involved now... i'm going to need to insert a spline in this set of sketch elements and i'm a little loathe in trying to produce the offset lengths from this original spline by hand... is there no convention in wildfire to let me offset a sketch without making a feature first...? if that's the case, i find it hard to believe with a program like wildfire...

 

[compujas]

As far as I'm aware, that can't be done. Someone else may be able to direct you if it is possible. But if what I envision you doing is creating a part with a cutout through it that has the same profile as the exterior (simple version being a cylinder with a cylindrical cutout through it, or rectangular rod with rectangular hole through it), then you can create the outer profile and make it a feature, then create another feature and offset the entire profile inward and create a cut out of it. If it is more complex than that, it may need more description if it can be done.

 

[appinmi]

Create the first sketch as a datum curve. Then create your feature offsetting the "datum curve entities". As far as I know, you cannot offset a "sketched entity" while in sketcher mode.