<< Click to Display Table of Contents >> Navigation: MechDesigner Reference & User Interface > 2.3 Part-Editor: > Geometry |
In the Part-Editor, use the Geometry menu and toolbar
•to edit the length of an Added-Part
•add sketch-elements
•to add dimensions
•to import a SolidWorks sketch
•to use the Merge-Points tool
See also: Constraints menu and toolbar
Part-Editor : Geometry toolbar is to the LEFT of the graphic-area.
Sketch-Elements and the Base-Part
Before you can add a joint between the Base-Part and a Part, you must edit the Base-Part to add to it a minimum of one(1) sketch-element. You can, of course, add any number of sketch-elements to the Base-Part. The first sketch-element in the Base-Part? We recommend that you add a Line as the first sketch-element to the Base-Part. Why? A Line gives you flexibility when you need to join other Parts to the Base-Part. We can select the Line's start-Point and/or end-Point to add Pin-Joints, and the Line to add Slide-Joints, between the Base-Part and a different Part. We can also reference the Line and/or the start-Point or end-Point to add a Motion-Dimension FB, and so define the motion of a Rocker and/or Slider relative to the Base-Part. |
Point names •Point - the sketch-element you add to the Part in the Part-Editor with Add Point. •start-Point - the Point where you mouse-button down at the start of the Drag to add a Line, CAD-Line, Arc, or Blend-Curve. •end-Point - the Point where you mouse-button up at the end of the Drag to add a Line, CAD-Line, Arc, or Blend-Curve. •center-Point - the Point where you mouse-button down at the start of the Drag to add a Circle. •center-Point - the Point at the center of an Arc after you mouse-button up at the end of the Drag to add an Arc. Edit a Dimension To edit a dimension: 1.If necessary, de-select Add Dimension and all commands. 2.Double-click the arrowhead of a dimension or extension line ( do not double-click the dimension number). Colors we use in the model and help* documentation for sketch-elements Sketch-Elements in the Part-Editor •Blue: sketch-elements not Fully defined •Black: sketch-elements Fully defined Sketch-Elements in the Mechanism-Editor •Green: Part is kinematically-defined / solved - Part-Outline is also Green. •Blue: Part is not kinematically-defined / solved - Part-Outline is also Blue. Note: The default colors that we use in the help may have changed. See: Application-Settings > Graphics > Display colors > Geometry Defined / Under-Defined Application-Settings > Graphics > Display colors > Part Solved / Part Unsolved Trouble-shoot - Geometry •CTRL+Z - that will return the geometry to the previous state., If not: •Click a sketch-element if it Black, but it should be Blue , •Click the Delete key on your keyboard, •Add the sketch-element again. Trouble-shoot - Constraints •SHIFT+CLICK a sketch-element, or its Points* to show, in the Selection-Window, any constraints that you have added •Delete the constraint from the Selection-Window. Trouble-shoot - Dimensions •Delete an Angle dimension if it will not increase to be greater than 180º. Move the sketch-element, add the dimension again. •Delete the dimension if it gets 'stuck' at 0, (angular or linear dimension) , Add the dimension again. Fix Constraint To FIX a Point, start-Point, end-Point, or center-Point: use the Lock & Specify check-box in the Point Properties dialog-box. However, you cannot FIX a Point with the Lock and Specify check-box if the Point is constrained with a Constraint or a Dimension |