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