Blocks?

Edward_Goodwin

I've imported a dxf drawing into a sketch in an onshape part. As with SW, the lines in the drawing are not constrained to one another. In SW I'd normally create a block and then move/constrain the block itself prior to working with it as part of a sketch. How should I do this in OS? Thoughts? I simply want to group/constrain an imported drawing within a sketch such that I can use the geometry. I need to move the imported drawing such that it's correctly positioned within the part.
Thanks in advance! Edward

bradley_sauln

Have you taken a look at the sketch transform option? https://cad.onshape.com/help/index.htm#transform-sketch.htm?Highlight=sketch%20transform

By highlighting the sketch entities, right-clicking and selecting transform, you will be able to move the sketch components to position as you desire. You should see a manipulator with arrows and a center circle that you can use to move the sketch components around.

konstantin_shiriazdanov

There are no real sketch blocks currently, but you can insert imported sketch in assembly, constrain it to the desired positions, which can be defined by another sketch or solid geometry and use it while editing parts in context. Another way is to use Transform pattern FS, among other options it can transform sketch bodies to the positions defined by vertices or mate connectors.

Edward_Goodwin

Thanks guys. I'm still a bit confused. I'm inserting a dxf into a sketch within a part (not an assembly) so that I can use the geometry calculated elsewhere. But I need to constrain that imported drawing accurately. I can see the transform option but that simply allows me to drag it (or specify a distance etc). I can't see where I can, for example, click a point on the imported geometry, click a point on the sketch geometry and say 'coincident'. Without this, I won't know that the imported geometry is exactly positioned... Or am I missing something? Edward

owen_sparks

Hi @Edward_12

The good answer is you can do exactly as you want.  The secret is in the circle of the transform manipulator.  First you move that circle to the part of your geometry you want to reference from, then drag the whole lot and drop that circle onto the existing geometry you want to be coincident with.  Does that make sense?  It's one of those things that difficult to put into words, but simple to do once you know it's there.

Cheers,

Owen S.

bruce_williams

@Edward_12
@NeilCooke Did an excellent short video for exactly what I think you are asking.  See it here.

owen_sparks

Nice

Edward_Goodwin

Thanks Owen and Bruce. That certainly gets me started!