Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

In this chapter, the following topics will be discussed:

• Working with Constraints
• Applying Constraints
• Controlling the Display of Constraints
• Controlling Constraint Settings
• Applying Dimensions
• Controlling Dimension Settings
• Modifying/Editing Dimensions
• Working with Different States of a Sketch
• Displaying Available Degrees of Freedom

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Working with Constraints

Constraints are used for restricting degrees of freedom of a sketch. You can
apply constraints on a sketch entity, between sketch entities, and between
sketch entities and planes, axes, edges, or vertices. Some of the constraints
such as horizontal, vertical, and coincident are applied automatically while
drawing sketch entities.

TIP: You can temporarily disable automatic application of constraints to the

sketch entities while drawing them by pressing and holding the CTRL key.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying Constraints
In Autodesk Inventor, the tools for applying various types of constraints are
available in the Constrain panel of the Sketch tab in the Ribbon.

Applying Horizontal Constraint

Applying Vertical Constraint

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying Coincident Constraint

Applying Collinear Constraint

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying Concentric Constraint

Applying Parallel Constraint

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Applying Perpendicular Constraint

Applying Tangent Constraint

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying Smooth Constraint

Applying Symmetric Constraint

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying Equal Constraint

Applying Fix Constraint

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Controlling the Display of Constraints

In Autodesk Inventor, you can turn on or off the display of constraints for
all active sketch entities.

NOTE: You can also delete an already applied constraint by selecting it in the
drawing area and then pressing the DELETE key.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Controlling Constraint Settings

In Autodesk Inventor, you can control the default constraint settings such
as displaying constraints in the sketch, applying constraints automatically
while creating sketch entities, and so on.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

General Tab

Display constraints on creation

Show constraints for selected objects

Display Coincident constraints in Sketch

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Inference Tab

Infer constraints

Persist constraints

Constraint Inference Priority

Selection for Constraint Inference

Tip: If the Infer constraints check box is selected and the Persist constraints
check box is cleared, then none of the constraints will be applied
automatically while creating the sketch entities except the coincident
constraint, unless the coincident check box is cleared in the Selection for
Constraint Inference area of the Inference tab in the dialog box.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Relax Mode Tab

The options of the Relax Mode tab of the dialog box are used for
enabling the relax mode and defining the relative settings.

Tip: You can also enable or disable the relax mode by clicking on the
Relax Mode tool in the Status Bar or by pressing the F11 key.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying Dimensions
Once a sketch has been drawn and the required geometric constraints
have been applied, you need to apply the required dimensions to the
sketch. As Autodesk Inventor is a parametric software, the parameters
of sketch entities such as length and angle are controlled or driven by
dimension values.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying a Horizontal Dimension

Applying a Vertical Dimension

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Applying an Aligned Dimension

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying an Angular Dimension

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying a Diameter Dimension

NOTE: By default, the diameter dimension is applied to a circle. However,

you can also apply a radius dimension to a circle.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying a Radius Dimension

NOTE: By default, the radius dimension is applied to an arc. However, you

can also apply the diameter dimension to an arc.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Applying a Linear Diameter Dimension

You can apply a linear diameter dimension to a sketch of a revolved feature.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

NOTE: If you select a centerline (entity 1) as the revolving axis of the

sketch then the linear diameter dimension appears in the drawing area
soon after selecting a linear entity of the sketch (entity 2).

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Controlling Dimension Settings

In Autodesk Inventor, you can control the default dimension settings by
using the Constraint Settings dialog box.

Edit dimension when created

Create dimensions from input values

Over-constrained Dimensions

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Modifying/Editing Dimensions
After applying dimensions, you may need to modify them due to changes
in the design, revisions in the design, and so on.

NOTE: If the General Dimension tool is activated then the Edit Dimension
dialog box appears when you single click on the dimension to be edited.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Working with Different States of a Sketch

In Autodesk Inventor, a sketch can be either Under Constrained or Fully
Constrained.

Under Constrained Sketch

Fully Constrained Sketch

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

NOTE: When you apply a dimension to a fully constrained sketch or a

sketch entity that is already constrained with existing dimensions and
constraints, the Autodesk Inventor Professional warning window
appears. It informs you that adding this dimension will over-constrain
the sketch and suggests to apply it as a driven dimension.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Displaying Available Degrees of Freedom

In Autodesk Inventor, you can display the available degrees of freedom of
the sketch entities that are not constrained with dimensions and constraints
in the drawing area.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Tutorial 1
Draw the sketch, as shown in the below figure and make it fully
constrained by applying all dimensions and constraints. The 3D model
shown in this figure is for your reference only. You will learn about creating
the 3D model in the later chapters. All dimensions are in mm.

To create this tutorial, follow the steps given in the textbook.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Tutorial 2
Draw the sketch, as shown in the below figure and make it fully constrained
by applying all the required dimensions and constraints. The 3D model
shown in the figure is for your reference only. You will learn about creating
the 3D model in later chapters. All dimensions are in mm.

To create this tutorial, follow the steps given in the textbook.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Tutorial 3
Draw the sketch, as shown in the below figure and make it fully constrained
by applying all the required dimensions and constraints. The 3D model
shown in the figure is for your reference only. You will learn about creating
the 3D model in later chapters. All dimensions are in mm.

To create this tutorial, follow the steps given in the textbook.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Hands-on Test Drive 1

Draw a sketch of the model shown in the below figure and apply
dimensions to make it fully constrained. The 3D model shown in the figure
is for your reference only. You will learn about creating the 3D model in
later chapters. All dimensions are in mm.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Hands-on Test Drive 2

Draw a sketch of the model shown in the below figure and apply
dimensions to make it fully constrained. The 3D model shown in the figure
is for your reference only. You will learn about creating the 3D model in
later chapters. All dimensions are in mm.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Hands-on Test Drive 3

Draw a sketch of the model shown in the figure and apply dimensions to
make it fully constrained. The 3D model shown in the figure is for your
reference only. You will learn about creating the 3D model in later
chapters. All dimensions are in mm.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Summary
In this chapter, you have learned about creating fully constrained sketches
by applying geometric constraints and dimensions. The chapter discussed
in detail the application of various types of constraints and dimensions. It
also explored concepts of displaying constraints, constraint settings,
dimension settings, modifying or editing dimensions, working with
different states of a sketch, and displaying available degrees of freedom for
a sketch.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

Questions
Complete and verify the following sentences:

• The ________ constraint is used for coinciding a sketch point on to a

line, an arc, or an elliptical entity.

• You can turn on or off the display of all the applied constraints of a
sketch by using the ________ or ________ tool, respectively.

• The ________ dimension is applied to a sketch representing a revolve

feature.

• All degrees of freedom of a ______ sketch are fixed.

• You can temporarily disable applying constraints automatically to the

sketch entities while drawing them by pressing and holding the ______
key.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

• The ______ constraint is used for applying a curvature continuity (G2)

at the transition point between a spline and a line, arc, or spline.

• When the ______ mode is enabled, you can drag the sketch entities
freely even if their movements are constrained with already applied
constraints and dimensions.

• You can also enable or disable the relax mode by clicking on the ______
tool in the Status Bar.

• If the ______ check box is selected, the dimension values entered in the
Dimension Input get applied to the resultant sketch entities,
automatically.

• The ______ tool in the Status Bar is used for displaying the available
degrees of freedom of the sketch entities.

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 Chapter 4: Applying Constraints and Dimensions

• You cannot modify dimensions once they have been applied.

(True/False)

• You cannot delete constraints that have already been applied between
the selected entities. (True/False)

• Geometric constraints are used for restricting some degrees of freedom

of a sketch. (True/False)

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