Part-Editor - Geometry menu and toolbar
Use the commands in the Geometry menu and Geometry toolbar
•to edit the length of a Part
•to add sketch-elements to a Part
•to add dimensions to or between sketch-elements
•to import a SolidWorks sketch onto a Part
•to use the Merge-Points command to merge two Points into one.
TOP-Tip:
Add the sketch-elements in ways that are clearly not constrained. For example, add a Line that is not Horizontal. Then add the Horizontal constraint.
See also: Constraints menu and toolbar
Geometry menu > Geometry commands
The Geometry menu has the commands to add sketch-elements to a Part.
Geometry menu > Geometry elements (MD17)
Part-Editor: Geometry toolbar
The Geometry toolbar is to the left of the graphics-area.
![Geometry toolbar [Click text to see more...]](md-toolbars-sketch-elements.png "Geometry toolbar [Click text to see more...]")
Sketch-Elements and the Base-Part
Before you can add a joint between the Base-Part and a Part you add to the model, you must edit the Base-Part to add to it a minimum of one sketch-element. You can, of course, add any number of sketch-elements to the Base-Part. The first sketch-element in the Base-Part? Add a Line as the first sketch-element. Why? A Line gives you the most flexibility. Why? After you add a Part to the model: •You can select the start-Point or end-Point of the Line to add a Pin-Joint. Then, you can reference the Line to add a Motion-Dimension FB for a Rocker. •You can select the Line to add a Slide-Joint. Then, you can reference the start-Point or end-Point of the Line to add a Motion-Dimension FB for a Slider. |
ABOUT GEOMETRY
Different names for Points: •Point - the sketch-element you add to the Part with Add Point. •start-Point - the Point where you mouse-button down at the start of the drag action 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 action 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 action 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 action to add an Arc. |
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 Colors of sketch-elements in the Part-Editor |
Typical Colors of Sketch-Elements Part-Editor •Blue (typically) sketch-elements are under defined •Green: (typically) sketch-elements are fully defined •Red: (typically) sketch-elements that are over defined. |
 Colors of sketch-elements in the Mechanism-Editor |
Mechanism-Editor: •Green: Part is solved, is kinematically-defined •Blue: Part is not solved (not kinematically-defined |
Trouble-shoot - Geometry •CTRL+Z should return the geometry to the previous state. •If a sketch-element is Green but it should be Blue: delete the sketch-element, and add the sketch-element again. Trouble-shoot - Constraints To delete a Constraint that you think is a problem: 1.SHIFT + Click a sketch-element, or Point, with a Constraint The sketch-element, or Point, and all Constraints that you have added to the sketch-element show in the Selection-Window. 2.Delete the Constraint from the Selection-Window. Trouble-shoot - Dimensions •Delete an angle dimension if you cannot edit to be more than 180º. Move the sketch-element, and add the angle dimension again. •Delete a dimension if it does not pass through 0, (angular or linear dimension), and add the dimension again. Fix Constraint To FIX a Point, start-Point, end-Point, or center-Point: use the Lock and Specify check-box in the Point Properties dialog. However, you cannot FIX a Point with the Lock and Specify check-box if the Point is constrained with a Constraint or a Dimension. |
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