The Part-Editor is not as powerful as those found in 3D CAD software. The Part-Editor is not meant to be a sketch editor for complex geometry. Do not try to add a very complex sketch. Keep them basic. Remember, MechDesigner is a design and analysis tool for kinematics - not a 3D Modelling tool. |
Construction geometry: Add each sketch-element as a 'free element', then use Constraints |
Large Models:
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• | Trouble-shooting in the sketch-editor. |
If your sketch changes in an unexpected way, and you cannot Drag to recover it: Use Edit Menu > Undo, or CTRL + Z To return the sketch to state it was in before: Use Edit menu > Undo or CTRL + Z Sometimes the Sketch 'Collapses' to a small dot. Use Edit menu > Undo or CTRL + Z Sometimes the Sketch 'Explodes to the size of a planet. Use Edit menu > Undo or CTRL + Z |
Sometimes, a sketch-element is BLACK but you know it should be BLUE. You should be able to add a dimension or constraint to it, but you cannot. Or, a sketch-element is BLUE when it should be BLACK. The best solution is to do one of these actions:
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Then add a different constraint. You can add the same constraint again, or use a different constraint, to see if the sketch-element turns BLACK. In our defence, the Part-Editor is continuously improved. |
Sometimes, a sketch-element is BLUE but you cannot add more constraints. You might be able to drag a sketch-element that is blue, but when you come to add a new constraint, MechDesigner does not accept it. In this case, a new constraint may remove two degrees-of-freedom, but the sketch has only one degree-of-freedom remaining. Example: Add Coincident Constraint between the centre-Point of a Circle and a Point at the end of a Line. If: the centre-Point of the Circle has a Coincident Constraint with the Line, Then: it is not possible to also add a Coincident-Constraint with a Point at the end of the Line
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