Constraints

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Constraints

Part-Editor - Constraints Menu and Toolbar

In the Part-Editor, use the Constraints menu and toolbar to add Constraints.

You can add Constraints

oto a sketch-element

obetween two sketch-elements

obetween a sketch-element and the X-axis or Y-axis

See below: Why cannot I add another Constraint?

See below: How to Delete a Constraint.

See also: Geometry menu and toolbar

Part-Editor: Constraints menu

Constraints menu

Constraints menu

Part-Editor: Constraints Toolbar

Part-Editor > Constraints toolbar is to the RIGHT of the graphic-area.

Constraints toolbar

Constraints toolbar

How to Delete a Constraint

You cannot see Constraints in the graphic-area.

To DELETE a Constraint from a sketch-element, you must first show the Constraint in the Selection-Window.

To show a Constraint in the Selection-Window:

1.SHIFT+CLICK a sketch-element

OR

1.SHIFT-Click a start-Point, end-Point, or a center-Point

The Constraints that apply to the sketch-element or Point are now in the Selection-Window.

To delete the Constraint:

In the Selection-Window:

2.Right-click the Constraint

In the contextual-menu:

3.Click Delete element
btn_delkeywordAbout Merge-Points and Coincident Constraint between Points

Add MERGE-POINTS (between two Points*) will delete a Point*

You cannot delete Points* that are merged with Merge-Points

Usually, do Merge-Points to make a sketch-path or sketch-loop.

Add Coincident Constraint (between two Points*) will not delete a Point*.  

You can delete a Coincident-Constraint from Points* again - see How to delete a constraint.

Usually, add Coincident Constraint for construction geometry.

* Points, start-Points, end-Points, center-Points.
btn_delkeywordOVER-Constrain a sketch-element?

You can add a constraint that will OVER-constrain a sketch-element.

E.g.: A Point* has two degrees-of-freedom.

1.If you add a Coincident Constraint between a Point and a Line  (CoincidentPtoL) you remove 1 degrees-of-freedom.

2.Then, you attempt to add a Coincident Constraint between two Points (CoincidentPtoP) you will attempt to remove 2 degrees-of-freedom.

However, it is not possible to remove three(3) degrees-of-freedom from a Point.

To correct the problem, delete the CoincidentPtoL - see Delete Constraint. - then Add a constraint between the two Points.