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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<!--T:1-->
{{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-->


<!--T:3-->
<!--T:3-->
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.
When a sketch is mapped to a face of a solid, the Sketcher External Geometry tool can be used to link to an edge or vertex of that solid. It works by inserting a linked construction geometry into the sketch. The default colour of externally linked edges, is magenta. As with standard non-linked construction geometry (blue), the externally linked geometry is only visible when the sketch is in edit mode and is not directly used in the subsequent result, from use of the sketch in another tool. Both types of construction geometry are used as a reference for constraints, within the sketch.


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This tool is used constrain elements of a sketch with reference to an element of an external solid, to which the sketch has been mapped. For example, it could be used to pocket a hole in the centre of a solid or 30mm from one end etc..

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The external geometry tool can only be applied to edges and/or vertices of the solid to which the sketch has been mapped. Consequently you can only link to elements of 3d solids. The edges may be straight, an arc or a circle.

You can not link to an external geometry of the solid which will be created from the sketch you are currently editing. This seems logical, however is a common issue when re-editing a sketch. When re-editing a sketch of a PartDesign feature which is mapped to the face of a solid (e.g. if you want to go back and change a sketch for a Pad002 where that sketch was mapped to a face of another Pad001) it is necessary to hide the solid the currently being edited sketch created (Pad002) and un-hide the previous solid (Pad001), so that you can see the previous solid (Pad001) if you wish to be able to apply the external geometry tool to one of its elements.


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[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio1.png]]
[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio1.png]]
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==Use== <!--T:8-->
==Usage== <!--T:8-->
* Create a new sketch on face of a solid (Click on the solid face, then click the create sketch button) or map an existing sketch to a selected face of a solid (first select a single face of a solid then use the "Map Sketch to Face" tool).
* Click the 'Sketcher External' button
* Select the edge, or vertex, of the solid that you want to link to in the sketch (remember this must be an edge or vertex of the solid to which the sketch is mapped)


See also: [[Sketcher_Workbench#Drawing_aids|Drawing aids]].


===How to Tell If It Worked === <!--T:15-->
<!--T:42-->
# There are several ways to invoke the tool:
If an edge is successfully linked it will have a magenta coloured line mapped over it (the vertices will be red), which will be visible in your sketch while your sketch is in edit mode.
#* Press the {{Button|[[Image:Sketcher_External.svg|16px]] [[Sketcher_External|Create external geometry]]}} button.
#* 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 ==


* 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.
===Similarity to Construction Lines=== <!--T:16-->
* Circular dependencies are not allowed. You can't link to an object that depends on the sketch itself.
External geometry (default colour magenta) lines are similar (default colour blue) [[Sketcher_ConstructionMode|Contruction lines]] except in that the external geometry magenta lines are parametrically linked back to an element of the solid to which the sketch is mapped.
* 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]].
Construction geometry are lines that are internal to the sketch, are only visible when the sketch is in edit mode and will be used for constraint references only, and not directly for later solid operations, like Pad or Pocket.


===Two Main Uses Of External Lines=== <!--T:18-->

<!--T:19-->
In the PartDesign workbench work flow, the External Geometry tool is used to assist in the positioning of an aspect of the solid you are constructing, relative to the previous stage in its construction. In other work benches it can be used in other ways.


<!--T:21-->
If you want a hole at a specific location in an object, this method should be used.

<!--T:22-->
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.


<!--T:23-->
*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.


===Sneaky Usage, Dimension One Sketch Off Of Another=== <!--T:24-->
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
#Optional, hide solid#1


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


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<!--T:12-->
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]]
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When the sketch edit mode is closed, external Geometry lines are not visible.
[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio4.png]]

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When the sketch is closed, External Geometry lines are not visible.
[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio3.png]]
[[FILE:Sketcher_ExternalEsempio3.png]]
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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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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.