Creating equal spacing between different size objects in a sketch

jeff_day734

I am trying to figure out how to evenly distribute a set of objects in a sketch. My goal is to create equal spacing between a set of different sized circles along a line, as shown in the screen shot below. I would like to set the position of the first and last circle in the line and have onshape automatically distribute the other circles so there is equal spacing between the edges of each.

This is pretty simple in most drawing programs, which typically have "Distribute Horizontally/Vertically" commands, but I don't see any equivalent in an OnShape sketch. I don't believe that linear patterns supports this requirement, as that seems to be about duplicating objects/polygons from their existing locations. And constraints don't work because the distance between the center point of each pair of circles needs to be different.

Thoughts?

rick_randall

Use separate construction lines between the edges of the circles (instead of center to center), then add equal constraints to those lines (you may want to use some vertical constraints on the circle centers as well). It's all about how you set up the sketch - hope this helps

S1mon

If I understand the ask, the trick is to add short construction line segments between each circle, and set them all equal.

You can also set the two outer spacers equal to each other and set them to some value, and then set all of the inner spacers equal and let them be the resultant. Or you could get rid of the outer spacers and just dimension the circles from the edges how ever you want.

Matt_Shields

For "distribute horizontally" behavior, do a linear pattern of points or lines or something and constrain your circles to those.  Or this custom feature might do the job:

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/391c117af2ccdf354a32c30e/w/417b2e155bf49f7b8278d4db/e/cab47a90ffd51f556c1843c9