Preventing Alternate Solutions in sketches 1

[bjfgrant]

Does anyone have suggestions about how to dimension/constrain sketches such that the alternate solution is avoided? Specifically, do you have experiences that suggest a certain minimum dimension is required to avoid flipping, or does it help to have reference curves "holding things down", so to speak. I'd like to have points dimensioned in a sketch, but the points flip when I modify other expressions in the part.
Thanks.

 

[mjcole]

bjfgrant,

I think I know what you are talking about. I'm used to using Pro/E which allows for positive and negative dimensions so that you can move the point on either side of a line to allow more flexability. One cause for the flipping is that UG forgets which direction was the positive value from a reference when the dimension changes to 0 and then another dimension is entered later on.

One way to avoid this is to use Reference lines at a distance from a given sketch line at a constant value such as 1. Then dimension your point from the reference line and give it a value of p###=1.00+DIM. This will allow you to position your points from the sketch line you curently use for your dimensions, or be colinear to it when DIM=0.

I use this technique frequently because it much less annoying then redimensioning your sketch all the time.

I see you are a new Eng-Tips user, it's a great site and can be very useful when you find yourself in a Jam with UG!

Hope this helps you out

Michael