Part-Editor - Constraints Menu and Toolbar

In the Part-Editor, use the commands in the:

•Geometry menu and toolbar : to add sketch-elements. This vertical and to the left of the graphic-area.
•Constraints menu and toolbar : to add and edit constraints to and between sketch-elements. This is vertical and to the right of the graphic-area.

Part-Editor: Constraints menu

Menu-Constraints

Part-Editor: Constraints Toolbar

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

Toolbar-Constraints2

tog_minusAbout Merge-Points and Coincident Constraint

MERGE-POINTS : Deletes a Point. You cannot remove a 'Merged Point'.

•Use to join sketch-elements end-to-end, and remove one of the Points.
•Use to make a sketch-path.

COINCIDENT CONSTRAINT : Does not delete a Point. You can delete a Coincident-Constraint later and move the Points apart again.

•Use to move together two Points, or a Point to a Line, or a Point to an Arc or Circle.
•Use for 'construction' geometry.

tog_minus        Why can I NOT add a new Constraint?

You cannot over-constrain a sketch-element in the Part-Editor [SolidWorks will allow you, but you are given a warning].

For example:

A Point has 2 degrees-of-freedom [DOF]. It you add a 'coincident constraint' between a Point and a Line, you remove 1 DOF, and 1 DOF remains. The Point can slide along the Line.

You cannot then add a new constraint between the same Point and a Point at one end of the Line. A constraint between a Point and a Point would remove 2 DOF, but there is only 1 DOF that remains.
tog_minusHow to delete a Constraint...
1.Click a sketch-element in the:
a.graphic-area

- or -

b.Geometry Tree

The sketch-element and the constraint show in the Selection-Window.

2.Right-click the constraint in the Selection-Window
3.Click 'Delete' in the contextual-menu

 

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Tutorial and Reference Help Files for MechDesigner and MotionDesigner 13.2 + © Machine, Mechanism, Motion and Cam Design Software by PSMotion Ltd