Sketcher External: Difference between revisions

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{{Docnav
|[[Sketcher_Extend|Extend]]
|[[Sketcher_CarbonCopy|Carbon copy]]
|[[Sketcher_Workbench|Sketcher]]
|IconL=Sketcher_Extend.svg
|IconR=Sketcher_CarbonCopy.svg
|IconC=Workbench_Sketcher.svg
}}

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{{GuiCommand
{{GuiCommand|Name=Sketcher_External|Workbenches=[[Sketcher Workbench|Sketcher]], [[PartDesign Workbench|PartDesign]]|Shortcut=E|MenuLocation=Sketch → Sketcher geometries → Sketcher External|SeeAlso=[[Sketcher_ConstructionMode|ConstructionMode]]}}
|Name=Sketcher External
|MenuLocation=Sketch → Sketcher geometries → Create external geometry
|Workbenches=[[Sketcher_Workbench|Sketcher]]
|Shortcut={{KEY|G}} {{KEY|X}}
|SeeAlso=[[Sketcher_ToggleConstruction|Sketcher ConstructionMode]]
}}


==Description== <!--T:2-->
==Description== <!--T:2-->


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The [[Image:Sketcher_External.svg|24px]] [[Sketcher_External|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 dedicated [[Sketcher_Preferences#Appearance|color]] (default magenta) and ({{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 geometry inside the sketch itself.
This tool pulls solid line geometry into your current sketch. Once these lines are pulled in, they will appear as magenta lines in the current sketch, and you can constrain and dimension sketch curves to them.


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This is useful because it lets you constrain you sketch back to nearby solid edges.

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You can ONLY pull in lines and edges that are on the same plane as the sketch plane.
Only solid lines/edges can be pulled into the sketch, NOT 2D sketches or draft lines.

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[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio1.png]]
[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio1.png]]
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==Use== <!--T:8-->
==Usage== <!--T:8-->
* Start a sketch on face of a solid (Click on the solid face, then click the create sketch button)
* Click the 'Sketcher External' button
* Select, select the solid line that you want to pull into the sketch (remember this must be on the same plane that the sketch is on)


See also: [[Sketcher_Workbench#Drawing_aids|Drawing aids]].
===How to Tell If It Worked ===
If the line is successfully pulled in it will have a magenta color. If it was not pulled in, it will remain green.


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===Similarity to Construction Lines===
# There are several ways to invoke the tool:
External geometry magenta lines can be used like [[Sketcher_ConstructionMode|Contruction lines]].
#* Press the {{Button|[[Image:Sketcher_External.svg|16px]] [[Sketcher_External|Create external geometry]]}} button.
Construction lines are lines that are internal to the sketch and will be used for constructing geometry only, and not for later solid operations, like extrusions.
#* Select the {{MenuCommand|Sketcher → Sketcher geometries → [[Image:Sketcher_External.svg|16px]] Create external geometry}} option from the menu.
#* Right-click in the [[3D_view|3D view]] and select the {{MenuCommand|[[Image:Sketcher_External.svg|16px]] Create external geometry}} option from the context menu.
#* Use the keyboard shortcut: {{KEY|G}} then {{KEY|X}}.
# The cursor changes to a white cross with the tool icon.
# Select an external edge or a vertex. See [[#Notes|Notes]].
# External 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 ==
External geometry magenta lines can be used as construction lines too, because they will not appear as sketch lines once you exit the sketch. But remember the external geometry magenta lines are parametrically linked back to a solid face.


* Only edges and vertices from objects within the same coordinate system can be selected. The sketch and the object must be in same [[PartDesign_Body|Body]], or the same [[Std_Part|Part]], or both in the global coordinate system. Use a [[PartDesign_SubShapeBinder|Binder]] to bring in a copy of the object into the current coordinate system if required.
===Two Main Uses Of External Lines===
* Circular dependencies are not allowed. You can't link to an object that depends on the sketch itself.

* Links to elements from other sketches are possible, and encouraged, as they are more reliable than links to generated (solid) geometry. The latter can suffer from the [[Topological_naming_problem|Topological Naming Problem]]. See [[Feature_editing#Advice_for_creating_stable_models|Advice for stable models]].
There are two scenarios where you'll want to use this tool.

* Option 1: You want to add holes or extrudes(pads) to the current solid that you're sketching on
* Option 2: You want to create tool bodies that are separate from your original solid


Option 1 is the simplest option. If you want a hole at a specific location in an object, this method should be used.

Option 2 must sometimes be used. If I need to subtract away multiple cutting bodies then I need those bodies to be separate from my original solid. In that case I will need to extrude my sketch to make a new separate solid, then use clone or rotate or array to make a bunch of parametric copies of it.
:If I'm working with sketches, only individual sketches can be extruded or padded.
:Extruding will create a new solid body.
: Padding or using the pocket tool will NOT. They will use the sketch to alter your original solid.


*Option 1 use pad or pocket to alter your solid, adding metal or making holes.
*Option 2, use extrude to make your tool solid, then duplicate it with the above methods, and add or subtract it from your original solid.

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One can use this to dimension one sketch off of another using the following order of operations:
#Make sketch#1
#Pad or extrude it to make a solid, solid#1
#Make sketch#2 on the same plane as sketch#1
#Pull in solid#1 lines into sketch#2
#Pad or extrude sketch#2 to make solid#2


==Example== <!--T:11-->
==Example== <!--T:11-->


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The magenta lines are External Geometry selected on two objects of the same extrusion products with previous sketch.
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 to create the constraints of tangency with the circumferences.
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The line on the smaller rectangle is not used.
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.
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[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio2.png]]
[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio2.png]]
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The active sketch with the basic forms hidden and external geometries visible.
This is the same sketch in edit mode, with the Pad upon which it is mapped hidden.


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[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio4.png]]
[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio4.png]]
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When the sketch is closed, External Geometry lines are not visible.
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When the sketch edit mode is closed, external Geometry lines are not visible.

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[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio3.png]]
[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio3.png]]
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|[[Sketcher_Extend|Extend]]
|[[Sketcher_CarbonCopy|Carbon copy]]
|[[Sketcher_Workbench|Sketcher]]
|IconL=Sketcher_Extend.svg
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Latest revision as of 15:51, 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 dedicated 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 geometry inside the sketch itself.

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 tool icon.
  3. Select an external edge or a vertex. See Notes.
  4. External 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

  • Only edges and vertices from objects within the same coordinate system can be selected. The sketch and the object must be in same Body, or the same Part, or both in the global coordinate system. Use a Binder to bring in a copy of the object into the current coordinate system if required.
  • Circular dependencies are not allowed. You can't link to an object that depends on the sketch itself.
  • Links to elements from other sketches are possible, and encouraged, as they are more reliable than links to generated (solid) geometry. The latter can suffer from the Topological Naming Problem. See Advice for stable models.

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.