What's The Best Way To 'Use' Then Modify That Sketch Entity?

larry_hawes

Missing something simple here. I think the whole idea behind the 'use' command is that the new sketch will 'use' the lines etc. of the original sketch being used, and be locked to that original sketch via the 'use' command.

I seem to be in a bad habit of where I want a new sketch to follow exactly the shape of another sketch which 'use' seems to work great for but after drawing that new sketch I then want to alter it but the 'use' constraint prevents that, so I have to delete all the 'use' constraints then alter the new sketch.

Is there another more efficient approach I could be using?

Working up a video example and will post shortly.

Jake_Rosenfeld

@larry_hawes

A good workflow here may be to "Use" the desired geometry as construction geometry and then create new non-construction entities that reference the construction entities:
https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/sketch-tools-construction.htm

NeilCooke

@larry_hawes I often use edges from other sketches or model edges then delete the endpoint constraint so I can extend or trim the line. Is this what you are trying to do?

larry_hawes

I think using 'use' for anything other than its intended purpose is not smart intent and just a bit lazy. To achieve what I want which, in a simple example is to create a hole with a plug and have the plug be slightly smaller than the hole. I am sometimes tempted to 'use' the original hole for the plug sketch then modify the sketch but I can see that anything less than carefully measuring both the hole and the plug will never be very efficient.

So please ignore this question...doh

Jake_Rosenfeld

@larry_hawes

A good workflow here may be to "Use" the desired geometry as construction geometry and then create new non-construction entities that reference the construction entities:
https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/sketch-tools-construction.htm

NeilCooke

@larry_hawes I often use edges from other sketches or model edges then delete the endpoint constraint so I can extend or trim the line. Is this what you are trying to do?

larry_hawes

I think using 'use' for anything other than its intended purpose is not smart intent and just a bit lazy. To achieve what I want which, in a simple example is to create a hole with a plug and have the plug be slightly smaller than the hole. I am sometimes tempted to 'use' the original hole for the plug sketch then modify the sketch but I can see that anything less than carefully measuring both the hole and the plug will never be very efficient.

So please ignore this question...doh

larry_hawes

Jake_Rosenfeld said:

@larry_hawes

A good workflow here may be to "Use" the desired geometry as construction geometry and then create new non-construction entities that reference the construction entities:
https://cad.onshape.com/help/Content/sketch-tools-construction.htm

Interesting - didn't think of that. Will try that on a case by case basis. Very helpful.

larry_hawes

NeilCooke said:

@larry_hawes I often use edges from other sketches or model edges then delete the endpoint constraint so I can extend or trim the line. Is this what you are trying to do?

Basically yes but sometimes need to delete a 'bunch' of 'use' constraints and it is quite awkward.

michael_mcclain

In many cases instead of using the 'Use' command, I will create regular sketch geometry and constrain them to other sketches or geometry. It depends on the use case, but I find this workflow to offer new opportunities that the 'Use' command may not offer. Or that it simply will be quicker or easier to modify when there are downstream changes to the the model.

i.e. I draw a circle and make a concentric constraint to an existing hole and set dimension between the circle edges to oversize the hole +1/32. Could be done with the use command, but it adds a step and leaves construction geometry that I dont see benefiting anything.

Like I said, depends on the use case. I still use plenty of 'Use' commands

MBartlett21

larry_hawes said:

NeilCooke said:

@larry_hawes I often use edges from other sketches or model edges then delete the endpoint constraint so I can extend or trim the line. Is this what you are trying to do?

Basically yes but sometimes need to delete a 'bunch' of 'use' constraints and it is quite awkward.

@larry_hawes
Try using Extend (Keyboard shortcut: X)

owen_sparks

Also copy and paste can be used to kill all the use constraints in one hit.

OwS.