Construction lines?

[pkelecy]

I'm trying to develop a parametric model of a part that has some fairly complex geometry. I want to use construction lines to help with this, but am not quite grasping how to create these. Reading through the documentation, it sounds like I should be able to select a line (or some other 2D object) and just click the Construction button on the Draw menu to toggle it to a construction element. But when I try that it doesn't work (nothing happens that I can tell). So what is the correct way to do this? I'm using SEwST (latest version).

Thanks for the help. -Pat

 

[donyoung]

Pat,

when in Sketch or Profile mode and you select 'Construction'
and LMB a line/Arc/... the type should change to a dashed one.
LMB once more and it will recevert to the former type. Such lines
will be ignored during the creation of the feature
In short: you must have a line/arc/..., the function won't create one

dy

 

[pkelecy]

Ok - I figured it out. Had to click the Construction toggle *first* and then select the elements I wanted to make construction lines. The opposite of what I was expecting.

Is there any way to change the color of the construction lines? Right now they show as blue, the same as the sketch lines.

Thanks. -Pat

 

[donyoung]

Pat,

AFAIK they will show the same colour as the 'normal'
line(s). A sketch should turn black in colour as soon
as it's fully constrained. To activate that coloring:
Inspect --> Relationship Colors
To get a reminder of any under-constraint profile/sketch
within the Pathfinder:
Application Button -- SolidEdge Options --> General:
activate 'Indicate under-constrained ...', OK to close

dy

 

[pkelecy]

Thanks dy.

Most CAD applications (at least the ones I've used) use a different color for construction lines to make it easier to see the actual profile. I'm surprised SE doesn't do that (or at least give you the option), because I do think it makes things easier.

Pat

 

[beachcomber]

The line style changes from solid to a double-dash.
To be honest, I rarely use construction lines so not having them a different colour is not a problem - and if I do I always like to have them fully constrained, so they will end up the same colour as the rest of the profile as Don says.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

 

[KENAT]

The line style is how they differenctiate. Playing with the default colors rarely works out well.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[beachcomber]

Kenat's right - the default colours are usually the best combination, although I do tend to go back to the dark background rather than the light blue gradient.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

 

[pkelecy]

Thanks for the all the responses.

Just to clarify, there is no way to change the color of construction lines -is that right? I did look through the option settings, but didn't see any way to do that.

Also, in my sketch the only elements not fully constrained are the construction lines. I have angles dimensioned but not lengths. Is applying a dimension (ie using a tool from the dimension group) the only way to constrain a length?

Also, is there a way to hide the dimensions for specific elements so they don't show on the sketch? My sketch is getting a little cluttered, and I would like to hide some of them.

Thanks again. -Pat

 

[beachcomber]

No, there is no way to change the colour of a construction line (or any other line) in a sketch/profile.

No, you can't hide dimensions, but you can hide/show all constraints (Tools > Relationship Handles).

A construction line is just like any other element, so you can constrain it in any way you choose - by applying dimensions or any other relationship such as connect, parallel, equal.
If your sketch is getting very cluttered it may be that the sketch is too complex.
Think about having simpler profiles, even if it means having more of them.
Very complex profiles/sketches are difficult to maintain and will slow down as they get more & more complex, because every time you add a constraint all the others have to be checked. They can also be difficult to solve and fully define.
Are you creating sketches first then creating the feature (as in other systems) or are you creating the profile as the first step after selecting feature type?
SE can work both ways.
In the first way the sketch is not 'absorbed' into the feature, but remains in the tree and can be hidden/shown & re-used by other features.
In the second way (I think most people work this way) the profile is absorbed into the feature.
There are instances where the first way is easier - I do it that way for sweeps and lofts.

bc.
2.4GHz Core2 Quad, 4GB RAM,
Quadro FX4600.

 

[KENAT]

My sketch is getting a little cluttered

Then you are probably trying to do too much in one go take a look at faq562-1410.

KENAT,

Have you reminded yourself of faq731-376 recently, or taken a look at posting policies:

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?