Part-Editor - Constraints Menu and Toolbar

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

•Geometry menu and toolbar : to add sketch-elements. The toolbar is to the left of the graphic-area.
•Constraints menu and toolbar : to add Constraints to, or between Geometry. The toolbar is to the right of the graphic-area.

Note: Geometry includes the sketch-element, and its start-Point, end-Point, and centre-Point.

IMPORTANT: MD14.2.120+

To delete a Constraint: To delete a Constraint you must show the Constraint in the Selection-Window.

1.SHIFT+CLICK a sketch-element - or - its start-Point, end-Point or centre-Point, if the Constraint is between any of those Points.

The sketch-element and its Constraints show in the Selection-Window.

2.Right-click the Constraint

In the contextual-menu:

3.Click Delete

To see ONLY Geometry in the Selection-Window:

•Click a sketch-element, or its start-Point, end-Point, or centre-Point

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 Merge-Points to join sketch-elements end-to-end, and remove one of the Points.
•Use Merge-Points 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 a Coincident-Constraint to move together two Points, or a Point to a Line, or a Point to an Arc or Circle.
•Use Coincident-Constraints for 'construction' geometry.

tog_minusWhy can I NOT add a new Constraint?

You cannot over-constrain a sketch-element in the Part-Editor (SolidWorks allows you to over-constrain, 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 only 1 DOF that remains.
tog_minusHow to delete a Constraint...
1.SHIFT+CLICK a sketch-element in the graphic-area

The sketch-element and constraints added to it, show in the Selection-Window.

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

Tutorials and Reference Help Files for MechDesigner and MotionDesigner 14.2 + © Machine, Cam, Mechanism, and Motion Design Software by PSMotion Ltd