automatic constraints validation and feedback

kees_bijker

Hello all,

I was wondering if Onshape was working on something like a more targeted feedback on constraint failures, under/over or improper. This remains a hot topic as it can be very difficult to locate the exact point where your sketch is either missing a constraint or where it is over defined or which constraints are at conflict. I have started over sometimes, simply because I could not dig through the existing constraints I had made in the past to find which was offending Onshape.

The current feedback simply states that at that point in time, were it to execute your last input, a constraint issue arises. But this is most often NOT the offending constraint.

In this article they describe a mathematical way to validate constraints, test them and offer a direct feedback as to what will repair it. The user can then choose which of the offered solutions would be the most appropriate based on the design intent.

https://acdl.mit.edu/ESP/Publications/AIAApaper2013-0702.pdf

I think it would add real value to an already very good product. Especially since not many other cad systems are giving direct feedback either.

Short of this particular solution, maybe Onshape could target this issue specifically in an educational video. There are not any concrete points to fix this problem of constraints failures, but more like a guiding framework of rules as described in:

https://community.ptc.com/sejnu66972/attachments/sejnu66972/partassemblydesign/120821/1/Good_Modeling_Practices.pdf

I think it would help a whole bunch of folk if this publication were converted in learning material with examples and self paced courses.

Looking forward to hear what is already on the planning table with regards to this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Kees