sketching constraints

[burnsp]

newbie SW user here... will SW automatically constrain a sketch? I've been using Pro/E for several years and just switched to SW. Pro/E has an intent manager that automatically constrains every skecth and then you can adjust the constraints as necessary. Can SW do this?

 

[mjcole_ptc]

If you are using SW 2008 Right Click while in Sketch and Choose
Fully Define Sketch

This will give you options for Relations you want to detect for all or selected items in the sketch, as well as allow you to add Baseline Chain or Ordinate dimensions to -like the functionality is called- Fully Define your Sketch instead of Pro/E wasting it's time constraining everything you sketch with weak dimensions even though the geometry that it's constraining might not even be used. You can choose where and when you want to Dimension and Constrain your sketch.

It kicks Pro/E's lame Azz and I used to be a Pro/E fan.

Another good thing about the SolidWorks Sketcher is that after you create a dimension you can to use a Pro/E term Re-Define it by selecting the box displayed at the end of an extension line and drag it to a new location whhich is not currently possible in Pro/E.

My problem with Pro/E is that you have to tell it the type of constraint you want to set and then select what to set equal. In Solid Works you hold down the CTRL key while selecting entities and you'll get a pop-up context menu that lists the available Constraints "Relations" in Solid Works So with a selection of 2 lines you can add equal and collinear and parallel all in one shot.

There is also an auto constrain option that will detect perpendicular parallel tangency coincident and other constraints as you sketch. These constraints will show as yellow icons near the geometry they are being created for. To disable those from being detected, you can hold the CTRL key and that will allow you to sketch a lie close to Horizontal with out having it snap to be Horizontal.

To set what constraints you want to be active you can Right click and select Relation/Snaps options and go into the Tools > Options and select what you want to be detected.

Unlike Pro/E the solid works sketcher allows you to check to see if a certain sketch will be able to create a feature and will actually tell you what's wrong with the sketch without the Cryptic Pro/E Resolve Failure mode sketch that you tell you something is wrong with the sketch but leave it to you to figure out what.

I always remember that as being like going to the doctor and having him/her tell you that you aren't feeling good and then charging you an extravagant fee.

SolidWorks' Sketcher

Pro/E's Sketcher

Michael


Edited by: mjcole_ptc