sketching in NX6 3

[tk369]

I am sketching in NX6. I am getting a message that my sketch is unconstrained.
I see some freedom freedom arrows. When I try to dimension any of them, the whole sketch becomes over-constrained.

Is there a setting to show what really needs to be dimensioned, rather than just the freedom arrows?

Thank you all in advance..tk

ted kralovic

VisVSA, NX-6, Macbook, iPhone 3GS, among others

 

[JohnRBaker]

The unconstrained feedback is indicated by the DOF (Degree Of Freedom) arrows as well as entry in the Cue/Status line listing how many constraints are needed yet to fully constrain the Sketch, but this is only an estimate and may not always represent the actual minimum needed.

Your best bet is to define all of your geometric constraints first and then the dimensions. To help you see what geometric constraints are already in your Sketch, I would recommend that you toggle ON the 'Show all Constraints' option.

BTW, there is NO requirement that your Sketch must be fully constrained before it can be used to create a feature, such as the Extrude or Revolve function. Granted, it's generally a good idea to fully constrain your Sketches, but it is NOT a 'must do'.

John R. Baker, P.E.
Product 'Evangelist'
Product Design Solutions
Siemens PLM Software Inc.
Industry Sector
Cypress, CA

http://www.siemens.com/plm

http://www.plmworld.org/museum/

To an Engineer, the glass is twice as big as it needs to be.

 

[cstauffe]

You can grab your sketch with your mouse and move the sketch around, this generally will give you a faster idea of what needs to be constrained.

 

[wecurb]

A lesson I have learned, the hard way, is that, if you do not turn off inferred constraints (Horiz etc.) that you will get constraints conflicting with what you expect. Also, directional dimensions give the same problem. Add geometry to allow perpendicular dims. only.

 

[tk369]

cstauffe:
Moving the sketch around with the mouse is THE BEST!
1 dimension took care of 11 needed constraints.

Perfect. Thanks to all who contributed..tk

ted kralovic

VisVSA, NX-6, Macbook, iPhone 3GS, among others