Getting Started Tutorials - MechDesigner > Tutorial 3: Add a Sketch-Loop to a Part > Step 3.2A: About Coincident Constraint, Merge-Points.

Summary of this Step:

We explain for you the difference between Coincident Points and Merged-Points.

You learn how to add and delete a Coincident constraint.

You learn how to Merge-Points efficiently, and not so efficiently.

Coincident Constraint

A Coincident constraint move two Points together.

Add Coincident-Constraint

Start-Points or end-Points of Lines

1.Click Geometry menu > Coincident constraint

a)Click a Point*

b)Click a different Point*

Point* must remain selected when you click Point*

* start-Point and/or end-Point of a sketch-element.

The two Points are now coincident.

Delete a Coincident Constraint

SHIFT+Click the sketch-element to identify constraints

SHIFT+Click the Point

To delete a constraint, we must show the constraint in the Selection-Window

1.SHIFT+ CLICK the Points that have a Coincident constraint

The two Points and the Coincident constraint are in the Selection-Window.

Contextual menu after Right-Click in the Selection-Window

In the Selection-Window:

2.Right-click the Coincident constraint

3.Click Delete element in the shortcut-menu

In the graphics-area, you can now drag to move the Lines apart again.

Merge-Points

Merge-Points moves two Points together AND deletes one of the Points.

Inefficient Method - NOT recommended

This method is not efficient.

Start-Points or end-Points of Lines in graphic-area

Do Merge-Points

1.Click Geometry menu > Merge-Points

a.Click Point*

b.Click Point*

c.Click the graphics-area in a place with no other elements.

* start-Point and/or end-Point of a sketch-element

Delete Merge-Points !?!

You cannot delete Merge-Points - it is not an element.

You can delete one or both sketch-elements.

Efficient Method - Recommended

This method is efficient.

Add sketch-element #1

STEP 1: Add sketch-element #1

Add the first sketch-element with the usual drag technique.

Add sketch-element #2

STEP 2: Add sketch-element #2

Before you Mouse-Button-Down...

Move you mouse-pointer above the end-Point of sketch-element #1 so that the end-Point is pre-selected

Mouse-button-down...

...move your mouse...

...mouse-button-up.

The start-Point of the second sketch-element is Merged with the end-Point of the first sketch-element.

Add sketch-element #3 and more

STEP 3: Add sketch-elements #3 and more

Continue to Hover + Drag to add more sketch-elements.

STEP 4: Add the LAST sketch-element:

Before you Mouse-Button-Down...

Hover above to pre-select the end-Point of sketch-element #N

... Mouse-button-down...

...move your mouse...

Before you Mouse-Button-Up...

Hover above to pre-select the start-Point of the sketch-element #1

...mouse-button-up.

A sketch-loop is complete.

If you click each Point along the sketch-loop, you will see only one Point in the Selection-Window.

If you find two Points where there should be one Point, you must 'repair' the sketch-loop.

Repair the sketch-loop with Merge-Points - the inefficient method.

Add the last sketch-element