Can I fix entities relative to each other but still move them around

[tmalinski]

I'm working in a 3d sketch and I have many arc segments that are connected together end to end kind of looks like a snake. I need to somehow fix or constrain the entities to keep them from changing but at the same time I need to be able to move the snake around as if it were a single entity. I know I can dimension them all in a way that preserves their individual size and shape, but that is quite time consuming because I have several with lots of arcs. I'm looking for a simple way to "fix" them all relative to each other, but with full freedom to move in 3d space. I tried blocking but can't seem to get it to work in a 3d sketch. Is there another way.
Any help is appreciated
Tom

Tom Malinski

http://www.okayind.com/

Dell Prec 670, Xeon 3.8,2GB Ram, Nvidia Quadra FX 3450/4000 SDI
SWorks Premium 2008 SP 3.1 & PDMWorks

 

[Theophilus]

That would be cool, wouldn't it? I know of no way to do this, but it's something I'd love to have also in 2D sketches and also with splines and other geometry (such that I can select the whole set of entities without parts getting hosed).



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

A people who value security over freedom will soon find they have neither.

 

[takedownca]

You can select all the sketch entities, start to ctl-drag them like you were about to copy them, but let go of the control button before you let go of the mouse button. You'll see a yellow outline of all the sketch entities moving together. It's not the permanent "relative fix" constraint you were looking for, but it will probably get the job done.

 

[takedownca]

Also, if you right-click and use Select Chain, that will save you a lot of manual clicking.

 

[tmalinski]

takedownca, thanks for your reply, but there is more to this than my simple explanation. One endpoint of the snake is constrained to another non movable entity and I want to position the snake by attaching the opposite endpoint to a line with an angular dimension. Then I edit the dimension and the entire snake will reposition or rotate.
sounds like I just need to dimension all of the segments to solve the sketch
thanks,
Tom

Tom Malinski

http://www.okayind.com/

Dell Prec 670, Xeon 3.8,2GB Ram, Nvidia Quadra FX 3450/4000 SDI
SWorks Premium 2008 SP 3.1 & PDMWorks

 

[takedownca]

Can you just put the constrained portion of the 3dsketch into its own part file and manipulate the part in the context of an assembly?

 

[tmalinski]

No, the 3d sketch creates a lofted surface like a wavy carpet which is then thickened into a solid model. the reason I need this sketch control is because future development of the product will require tweaking one end of the sketch geometry to change it's degree of twist, but not change the curvy shape. It's complex but works pretty good. I have dimensioned all the segments in the last 1/2 hour and it works well. I was just hoping SW had an easier way

Thanks for your suggestions
Tom

Tom Malinski

http://www.okayind.com/

Dell Prec 670, Xeon 3.8,2GB Ram, Nvidia Quadra FX 3450/4000 SDI
SWorks Premium 2008 SP 3.1 & PDMWorks