Constraints

Constraints help you to create accurate, precise sketches easily.

Using constraints

In Shapr3D you only have to keep yourself to a small set of rules to use our constraints efficiently.

1. Just start sketching: You can access the constraints in the Sketching menu, just select any sketch and the Menu will appear.
2. Always pre-select: Select the lines, points, arcs, circles first and only then add the constraints. Simple as that.
3. Other tools in the constraints menu: Trim and Offset are not constraints, but they are used with sketches. 
4. Dimension & Auto-lock: Tap on any line, circle or combination of points and give them length, radius or create a distance between them. These dimensions will be auto-locked.

TIP: Create a rough sketch first and only then add constraints.  This workflow will make your job easier!

How can I delete constraints?

1. Select the sketch you want to change
2. Tap on the constraint icon you want to delete
3. Tap on the "X"

List of available constraints:

Parallel: It makes 2 or more lines parallel to each other.

Perpendicular: It creates a 90° connection between 2 or more lines. The lines don't have to share a common point or cross each other. 

Tangent:  You can make a circle&circle; line&circle and a line&line tangent to each other.

Concentric: It makes two or more circles share their center point. 

Horizontal / Vertical: This command will make your lines parallel to the X or Y axis of the sketch plane, whichever takes fewer adjustments.

Equal: Makes your lines the same length and your circles having the same radius.

Lock: Simply locks your points. Select any number of lines, circles or points and this tool will lock all the points related. Locking a single point can be achieved by selecting the point and tapping on the lock icon on top of it.

Symmetry: Makes your lines, circles or points symmetric to each other, in relation to a given axis.

• Lines: Their vectors will be mirrored to a given axis
• Circles: Their radius will be the same, and their center point will be on the same imaginary line, perpendicular to the axis of symmetry.

Note: if you apply the symmetry constraint on your lines, it won't make the end points of the lines symmetric, only the lines.

Dimensions 

There are multiple dimensions you can control by simply tapping on the sketch you want to change, and entering the right dimension. Here are the options you have:

• length: select a line, tap on the annotation and enter a value

• radius: select a circle or an arc, tap on the annotation and enter a value

• distance: select the points you want to dimension, choose from the distance types: horizontal, vertical or absolute and enter a value.

• angle: you can set the angle between any two connected curves. You can modify this angle by selecting the two lines/arcs, tapping on the annotation and entering the final angle.

• Point-Point distances: Define the distance by two points by selecting them, and entering the desired length. 3 different distances are available:
  
  • Absolute
  • Horizontal
  • Vertical

•  point-line distances: Define the length between a point and a line

Tutorial

In this video you can learn how to use all the tools in this article, and with that how to finish up your sketches.