Can't select anything but the origin in sketch

damon_rowan

Hi, I am new to Onshape, I have Solidworks experience but it has been a few years since I have worked with it. I think I have forgotten more than I seem to remember. I am making a very simple ball socket but can't create a profile for the Helix because I can't seem to select anything except the Origin when any sketch tool is selected. I can select everything just fine when I don't have a sketch tool selected. I know it is probably something simple I am forgetting but can't figure out what it is. Any help in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. The part is public and called "Socket test" 

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/887c70703e22b477d68872fe/w/517735809fc2749884183e3a/e/8526746f01370a685e11475a

larry_hawes

Trying to understand the question but when a sketch tool is 'selected' either a sketch is being edited (right click select 'edit') or the sketch tool has been selected and a new sketch is being created. In either case only the items within that sketch are available. Are you trying to create a new sketch? Edit an existing sketch? Select another feature for another purpose?

damon_rowan

When trying to create a new sketch for the profile of the Helix. I cannot select any geometry or intersects of the part.  The sketch plane goes through the center line of the part but I can't reference it to the part except by the origin. 

Jake_Rosenfeld

@damon_rowan

You have a few options here.  You either need to bring the geometry of the part in question into the sketch using Use or Intersect:
https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/sketch-tools-use.htm 
https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/sketch-tools-intersection.htm

Another thing you could do is just sketch the curve you want, and then use a constraint to constrain it to external geometry without bringing that geometry into the sketch.  Constraints are the tools all the way on the right of the sketch toolbar, like Tangent, Pierce, and Coincident.

Jake_Rosenfeld

This is a really good resource to learn how Onshape sketching works:
https://learn.onshape.com/courses/fundamentals-sketching