Sketcher External: Difference between revisions

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#* Use the keyboard shortcut: {{KEY|G}} then {{KEY|X}}.
#* Use the keyboard shortcut: {{KEY|G}} then {{KEY|X}}.
# The cursor changes to a white cross with the current tool icon.
# The cursor changes to a white cross with the current tool icon.
# Select an external edge or a vertex.
# Pick edges and/or vertices to project onto in the sketch plane.
# Extra geometry is created.
# This tool always runs in continue mode: optionally keep selecting external edges and/or a vertices.
# To finish, right-click or press {{KEY|Esc}}, or start another geometry or constraint creation tool.


== Notes ==
== Notes ==

Revision as of 10:50, 23 March 2024

This documentation is a work in progress. Please don't mark it as translatable since it will change in the next hours and days.

Sketcher External

Menu location
Sketch → Sketcher geometries → Create external geometry
Workbenches
Sketcher
Default shortcut
G X
Introduced in version
-
See also
Sketcher ConstructionMode

Description

The Sketcher External tool projects edges and/or vertices belonging to objects outside the sketch onto the sketch plane. The projected geometry is called "external geometry". It stays parametrically linked to its source objects. External geometry edges are marked with a special color (default magenta) and (introduced in version 0.22) linetype. Similar to construction geometry, external geometry is not visible outside the sketch, it is intended to help define constraints and other sketch geometry.

Usage

See also: Drawing aids.

  1. There are several ways to invoke the tool:
    • Press the Create external geometry button.
    • Select the Sketcher → Sketcher geometries → Create external geometry option from the menu.
    • Right-click in the 3D view and select the Create external geometry option from the context menu.
    • Use the keyboard shortcut: G then X.
  2. The cursor changes to a white cross with the current tool icon.
  3. Select an external edge or a vertex.
  4. Extra geometry is created.
  5. This tool always runs in continue mode: optionally keep selecting external edges and/or a vertices.
  6. To finish, right-click or press Esc, or start another geometry or constraint creation tool.

Notes

A note of caution, using this tool to link to generated (solid) geometry can lead to unexpected results due to Topological Naming Problem. Also see Advice for stable models.

  • Only edges and vertices from objects from same coordinate system are allowed.

That is, the sketch and the object must be in same Body (when in Part Design workbench), or in same Part (when in Part workbench), or both outside of any Parts and Bodies.

For example, If the open sketch is in Body, you can use another sketch from Body as external geometry, but you can't use a sketch from Body001, or an edge from a Part Cube in the root of the project. Use Shapebinder feature to bring in a copy of the object into the coordinate system of open sketch. Then you will be able to use edges/vertices of Shapebinder object.

  • No circular dependencies are allowed.

That means, you can't link to Pocket made with this sketch. You can't link to any object that depends on the sketch.

Sketch doesn't have to be on any face in order to use this tool. Links directly between sketches are possible, and encouraged, as they are more reliable.

Example

This, below, is a sketch mapped to the top face of a solid created from a Pad of a previous sketch. The magenta lines are External Geometry linked to two edges of this pre-existing Pad.

In this case they are used as a reference for tangency constraints with the circumferences of one circle. They are also used as the reference for a horizontal and a vertical constraint to locate the centre of the second circle relative to the end and top of the Pad.

This is the same sketch in edit mode, with the Pad upon which it is mapped hidden.

When the sketch edit mode is closed, external Geometry lines are not visible.