Alignment guides and Sketchs vs Drawings

val_schmidt

Hi,
Is there a way to lay out alignment guides that would aid in precise placement of several entities within a sketch? For example, perhaps I want to place a line of holes some distance from an edge, or in a circular pattern. One might lay out a guide line (or circle), which is only to aid in understanding the drawing, but is not part of the part itself.

One more thing. I'm new to Onshape and I'm embarrassed to ask this question, but can someone explain the difference between a sketch and a drawing? 

Thanks,
Val

bruce_williams

Hi Val,

On 'precise placement of entities'.  The three main ways in OS sketch to control placement is constraints, construction lines, and dimensions.  To place a line of holes along an  edge you could sketch points or circles with their centers horizontal, vertical, or coincident with a construction line.  You can also make a arc or circle a construction type line and then constrain the points or circles to that.  

The OS website is full of great videos.  Maybe check out the sketch constraints at https://www.onshape.com/videos/dimensions-and-constraints.

Hope that helps!

Bruce

mahir

And as for sketch vs drawing - sketches are used in the part studio to design geometry, while drawings are representations of parts/assemblies for documentation/manufacturing purposes. So, sketches drive parts, and parts/assemblies drive drawings.