Using midpoint to align entities

neil_preston

I cannot seem to make 'midpoint' work in any useful manner.  If I select a tool, selecting the midpoint tool deselects the first tool.  For example:

1. I draw a construction line perpendicular to a line segment.  I want to align (move) the construction line onto the midpoint of the line segment.  Nothing works.

2. I want to draw a 3 point arc with the center of the arc aligned with the midpoint of a line segment.  Any attempt to select the arc and the midpoint cancels the arc selection.  Same with a circle.

How can this be accomplished?

glen_dewsbury

Select a point on the object you want to move then the line for midpoint ref. then use midpoint tool.

Or select the midpoint tool then the line and center point of circle. Arc/line is already drawn.
no need to hunt down mid point of construction line.

Mid point isn't always selectable when drawing an object.

EvanReese

fun note here, midpoint also works if you select 3 points. It'll make them all fall on a line with one in the center.

neil_preston

I couldn't get the 3 point method to work either.

This is what I want to do, and I find that I frequently want to do it.  The blue line is the X axis. I want to center the red rectangle on the X axis.  I tried dimensioning the distance from the end to the X axis at 8 mm, but it errored out with the message "sketch could not be solved." (That's why it's still red.)

It seems that I should be able to select the midpoint tool, then select a line to define the midpoint, then use the 'coincident' tool to bring them together.

Is there another way to do this?

NeilCooke

Draw a centerpoint rectangle or use the symmetry constraint, otherwise you'll have to create a point constrained to the midpoint then use that.

neil_preston

Thanks, Neil.  I did use the centerpoint rectangle which solved this issue.

However, I often need to center a line on a construction line or an axis or other similar structure.
It seems like I ought to be able to use the midpoint tool to identify the midpoint of a line, then use the coincident tool to align it with the construction line, or an axis, or other line.

What methods can be used to do this?

NeilCooke

Just the second part of my last post.