Lock position of existing geometry

[Bribyk]

I'm attempting to sketch within an existing building layout (previously an architectural AutoCad file) in the 2D model sheet but, when I dimension lines that I have just drawn it moves the existing geometry rather than my new line. I've tried locking and creating a rigid set of the existing geometry but haven't had much luck (and it will freeze up because of the number of entities). I tried switching the dimension from driving to driven but then it won't move the line at all. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[donyoung]

Hi,

it's hard to explain why this is 'works as designed'. I think you
should have a look at the tutorial "Creating 2D Drawings with Solid Edge"
You will find it here: Help --> Tutorials --> Draft Tutorials (V19)

dy

 

[Bribyk]

I've gone through both tutorials. It doesn't make sense to me that the program logic would move an entire building plan rather than one line that is under construction. I did manage to create a block containing most of the features I did not want to change, I just have to be careful to dimension to something that is in the block.

 

[donyoung]

Hi,

in case the whole construction will not go out of shape
during the 'move' then it's fully constraint in itself
so one element of that can be locked to prevent the movement.
Just to explain it a little bit better I've placed a picture
here

unwanted move

HTH
dy

 

[beachcomber]

Bribyk,
You could try making the existing geometry a 'rigid set' , although if you have a very large amount of graphics this may be slow to do.
I think you may still then have to fix the set in position so that it does not move.
Alternatively your block idea seems OK, but again you may need to fix it in position.

bc

 

[PatCouture]

I must admit that I dislike the fact that the lines are not fixed to their position until they are fully constrained or fixed with the lock constraint when working in the 2D environnement. But that is only when I want to draw building layout otherwise it's very useful for sketching form and then adding dimensions.

I think that Bribyk got a nice idea... it would be a great enhancement to have an option that keep everything in place (lets say Rigid) without having to had any constraints kind of like having the relationship maintained or not, we could have "fixed lines" on or off. That way would we could draw without relationships (a lot lighter) and not having to be careful about moving a line unintentionally. That would be sort of having an AutoCad mode for huge drawing with a lot of stuff in it that are just too big to have everything constrained.

What do you think?

Patrick

 

[donyoung]

Hi,

with respect to the unwanted move: the draft works just like sketching
in the 3D environment of part/sheet metal. But usually you tie your
sketch to one of the reference planes or something else so that it
stays put. This can be done in 2D in a similar fashion -- two lines
or a small circle that serve as reference point will do ... hide them
before print ;-)
When the only purpose of that 2D-Drawing is to print it why not use
any cheap(!) 2D CAD or if you prefer ACAD (LT) they do just what you
want. I would not be pleased when draft becomes 'AutoDraft' ...

My 0.02

dy

 

[PatCouture]

I totally Agree with you Don but SE is pushing towards replacing AutoCad with his Free 2D version and I think it will never achieve that without a functionnality such as I described above.

I did buy a seat of AutoCad LT exactly because I was having the same problem as Bribyk, but if SE would offer a real solution for building layout then I would be more than happy to get rid of my seat of AutoCad.

I don't think SE needs to become "AutoDraft" and I wish it won't but there is a lot of improvement to be made before SE Draft can be use for building layouts.

My 2 cents

Regards

Patrick

 

[Bribyk]

I come from a ProE background and it sounds like the 2D sketcher functionality in that is similar to SE 3D. The sketch function logic in ProE just seems to be more intuitive than SE 2D as far as drawing lines and then placing them with dimensions (or maybe I'm just more used to working with program).

When I sketch a feature I usually rough it in and then add dimensions afterwards to constraint the feature and its geometry. SE 2D seems to do unwanted operations while I'm constraining the lines such as changing the length that I just entered or rotating the entire building instead of the line to make it parallel. Then if I add an adjoining line and try to constrain/dimension it, the logic will change my previously constructed line as well. It's very frustrating to even sketch out a 10'X 10' box and try to align and place it. The 2D logic just seems a little off to me.

I do prefer the program over ProE for creating drawings though and do transfer my ProE models via DXF to create shop drawings.

 

[donyoung]

Patrick,

[cite]
... but SE is pushing towards replacing
AutoCad with his Free 2D version and I think it will never achieve
that without a functionnality such as I described above.
[/cite]

yep, and I wonder why they spend a lot of money in something that would
not impress an ACAD user. I too have my ACAD-LT around for the same
reason you did mention. When something is just to get it printed and
never will find its way into 3D I fire up the ACAD (layouts are one of
those) ...

dy