Learning Objectives:

Understand the concept of under-constrainted, fully-constrained, and over-constrainted sketches. Understand different types of geometric constraints . Configure settings for applying constraints automatically while sketching. Force additional geometric constraints to sketches. View and delete geometric constraints from sketches. Animate a fully-constrained sketch. Understand different types of dimensional constraints .

Measure the distance value between the objects in a sketch.

Measure the angle between the entities.

 CONSTRAINING SKETCHES
You need to constrain the sketches so as to restrict their degree of freedom to make them stable. After applying the geometrical constraints, you need to add dimensional constraints using the tools in the Sketch Tools toolbar.

CONCEPT OF CONSTRAINED SKETCHES

After drawing and applying the constraints, the sketch can pass through in the following three stages:
Under-Constrain Fully-Constrain Over-Constrain

 Under-Constrain
An under-constrained sketch is the one in which all degrees of freedom of each entity are not completely defined using the geometric and dimensional constraints.

Fully-Constrain
The fully-constrained sketch is the one in which all degrees of freedom of each element are defined using the geometric and dimensional constraints, as shown in Figure.

A fully-constrained sketch

 Over-Constrain
An over-constrained sketch is the one in which some additional constraints are applied.

DEGREE OF FREEDOM ARROWS

The degree of freedom arrows will be displayed on the points, which are free to move (under-constrain), as shown in Figure.

The degree of freedom arrows displayed on the points

 GEOMETRIC CONSTRAINTS
Geometric constraints are logical operations performed on the sketching entities to relate them to the other sketched entities using standard properties such as collinearity, concentricity, tangency, and so on.
These constraints reduce the degrees of freedom of the sketched entities and make the sketch more stable so that it does not change its shape and location unpredictably at any stage of the design.

Applying Additional Constraints Individually

In NX, you can apply additional constraints manually using the Constraints tool in the Sketch Tools toolbar.

The Constraints dialog box

 Fixed Constraint Fully Fixed Constraint Horizontal Constraint Vertical Constraint Coincident Constraint Point On Curve Constraint

Midpoint Constraint Parallel Constraint Perpendicular Constraint

Equal Length Constraint

Tangent Constraint Equal Radius Constraint

 Concentric Constraint Collinear Constraint Constant Length Constraint Constant Angle Constraint Slope of Curve Constraint Uniform Scale Constraint Non-Uniform Scale Constraint

Selecting the endpoints of the first and second entities

The resulting sketch after applying the Coincident constraint

The reference elements selected from the entities to apply the Point on Curve constraint

The resulting sketch after applying the Point on Curve constraint

Applying the Parallel constraint

Before and after applying the Perpendicular constraint

Before and after applying the Tangent constraint

Sketch before and after applying the Concentric constraint

 Applying Automatic Constraints to the Sketch

The Auto Constrain tool allows you to apply the possible constraints automatically to the entire sketch. The options in the Auto Constrain dialog box , as shown in the figure, are discussed next.

Constraints to Apply Rollout

This rollout consists of various check boxes for major geometric constraints in NX.

Settings Rollout
This rollout provides the options to set the tolerance for applying the constraints.

The Auto Constrain dialog box

 Controlling Infer Constraints Settings

Some of the constraints are automatically applied to the sketched entities while they are being sketched. These settings are controlled by the Inferred Constraints tool.

The Inferred Constraints dialog box

 Showing All Constraints in the Sketch

Constraints such as Parallel, Perpendicular, and so on are not displayed by default. You can turn on the display of these constraints using the Show All Constraints tool.

Turning Off the Display of All Constraints in the Sketch

NX also allows you to turn off the display of all constraints in the sketch. This can be done by using the Show No Constraints tool. This tool is a toggle with the Show All Constraints tool.

 Showing/Removing Constraints
If you want to temporarily highlight or permanently delete the constraints applied to the sketch, you can use the Show/Remove Constraints tool. When you invoke this tool, the Show/Remove Constraints dialog box will be displayed. The options in this dialog box are discussed next.

List Constraints for Area

This area provides three radio buttons, which are given next.

Selected Object
Selected Objects All in Active Sketch The Show/Remove Constraints dialog box

 Constraint Type Drop-down List

The Constraint Type drop-down list is used to select the type of constraints that are to be listed.
There are two radio buttons available and they are listed next. Include

Exclude

Show Constraints Area

The options available in this area are listed next.
Drop-down List List Box

 Remove Highlighted
When you choose this button, the selected constraints in the list box are deleted automatically.

Remove Listed
Choosing this button deletes only the constraints that are listed in the list box.

Information
This button is used to open a new window, which provides the information about the constraints listed in the Show/Remove Constraints dialog box.

 Converting a Sketch Entity to a Reference Entity

The Convert To/From Reference tool from the Sketch Tools toolbar is used to covert or retain the reference property of a sketched entity. The Convert To/From Reference dialog box will be displayed, as shown in the figure.

The Convert To/ From Reference dialog box

 DMENSIONAL CONSTRAINTS
After creating the sketch, you need to apply the different types of dimensions. Various types of dimensions in NX are given next:
Applying Horizontal Dimensions Applying Vertical Dimensions

The horizontal dimension created for a horizontal line and an inclined line

The vertical dimension created for a vertical line and an inclined line

Applying Parallel Dimensions

Applying Perpendicular Dimension

The parallel dimension applied to a sketch

The perpendicular dimension applied between the objects

Applying Angular Dimensions

Applying Diameter Dimensions

The angular dimensions applied between the objects

The diameter dimension created for a circle

The diameter dimension created for an arc

Applying Radius Dimensions

The radius dimension created for a circle

The radius dimension created for an arc

Applying Perimeter Dimensions

The Perimeter tool is used to create the circumferential or perimeter dimension.

Applying Dimensions Using the Inferred Dimensions Tool

The radial and linear dimensions created by using the Inferred Dimensions tool

 Animating a Fully Constrained Sketch

The Animate Dimension tool from the Sketch Tools toolbar is used to animate the sketch by selecting any one of the dimensions as the driving dimension from the same sketch.

The Animate dialog box

A fully constrained sketch from which the driving dimension is selected is shown in Figure A. Figure B shows the sketch being animated.

Figure A Driving dimension selected from sketch

Figure B Animating the sketch

 MEASURING THE DISTANCE VALUE BETWEEN THE OBJECTS IN A SKETCH

While sketching, you may need to measure the dimension of various sketched entities. To do so, choose the Measure Distance button from the Utility toolbar; the Measure Distance dialog box will be displayed, as shown in the figure.
The methods for measuring the dimension of various sketched entities are discussed next.

The Measure Distance dialog box

 Measuring the Distance Between Two Objects in a Sketch

Using this option, you can measure the distance between any two linear and inclined entities in a sketch. Select the start point; a ruler will be displayed, as shown in Figure A. This ruler stretches along with the cursor. Now, move the cursor and specify the endpoint; the distance measured will be displayed in the display box, as shown in Figure B.

Figure A The ruler displayed after selecting the start point

Figure B The edit box displayed after selecting the endpoint

 Measuring the Projected Distance Between Two Objects

The Projected Distance option is used to measure the distance between two objects along a predefined projected direction.

The ruler locked to the specified projection direction

The edit box displayed after selecting the endpoint

 Measuring the Screen Distance Between Two Objects

The Screen Distance option can be used to measure the distance between two objects for a particular orientation of the objects on the screen.

The ruler displayed after selecting the first object

The distance value displayed on the ruler

 Measuring the Length of an Arc or a Line

The Length option can be used to measure the length of an arc or a line.

The length measurement displayed for a line

The arc length measurement displayed for an arc

 MEASURING THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE ENTITIES

After creating the sketch, sometimes you may need to measure the angle between some of the entities. To do so, choose the Measure Angle button from the Utility toolbar; the Measure Angle dialog box will be displayed, as shown in the figure.

The Measure Angle dialog box

 Measuring the Angle Value Using the By Objects Option

The By Objects option can be used to measure the angle value subtended between two selected objects

The angular measurement displayed using the By Objects option

 Measuring the Angle Value Using the By 3 Points Option

The By 3 Points option can be used to measure the angle value subtended between the three selected points.

The angle measured using the By 3 Points option

 Measuring the Angle Value Using the By Screen Points Option

The By Screen Points option is used to measure the angle value between three selected points for a particular orientation on the screen.

The angular measurement displayed using the By Screen Points option

 Tutorial 1
In this tutorial, you will draw the profile for the model shown in Figure A. The profile is shown in Figure B. The profile should be symmetric about the origin. Also, you will use the parametric dimensions to complete the sketch. (Expected Time : 30 min)

Figure A Model for Tutorial 1

Figure B Sketch for Tutorial 1

1.
2. 3.

Start NX 7 and then start a new file using the Model template.
Invoke the Sketcher environment using the XC-ZC plane as the sketching plane. Draw the outer profile of the sketch using the Profile tool and add the sketcher constraints to the outer loop as shown in Figures C and D.

Figure C The outer loop of the profile and the sequence of lines to be drawn

Figure D The outer profile after adding the Equal Length constraint

5.

Add the dimensions to outer profile using the Inferred Dimension tool, refer to Figure E.

Figure E The outer profile after adding the required dimensions

6.

Draw the rectangle inside the outer loop using the Rectangle tool and add the required constraints to it, as shown in Figure F.

Figure F The sketch after adding the required constraints to the inner profile

7.

Add dimensions to the rectangle to complete the sketch, refer to Figure G.

Figure G The resulting sketch after adding the required dimension and constraints 8. Choose the Save button from the Standard toolbar to save the sketch.

 Tutorial 2
In this tutorial, you will create the profile for the model shown in Figure A. The profile is shown in Figure B. You will use the constraints and dimensions to complete this sketch. (Expected Time : 30 min)

Figure A Model for Tutorial 2

Figure B Profile for Tutorial 2

1. 2. 3.

Start NX 7 and then start a new file using the Model template. Invoke the Sketcher environment using the XC-ZC plane as the sketching plane. Draw the outer profile of the sketch using the Profile tool and add the sketcher constraints and dimensions to the outer loop as shown in Figures C and D.

Figure C The sequence to be followed for drawing the sketch 4.

Figure D The final sketch after adding the required dimensions and constraints

Choose the Save button from the Standard toolbar to save the sketch.

 Tutorial 3
In this tutorial, you will create the profile for the revolved model shown in Figure A. The profile is shown in Figure B. You will use the constraints and dimensions to complete this sketch. (Expected Time : 30 min)

Figure A Model for Tutorial 3

Figure B Sketch for Tutorial 3

1. 2. 3.

Start NX 7 and then start a new file using the Model template. Invoke the Sketcher environment using the XC-ZC plane as the sketching plane. Draw the outer profile of the sketch using the Profile tool and add the sketcher constraints and dimensions to the outer loop as shown in Figures C and D.

Figure D The completed sketch displayed after adding the required constraints and dimensions

Figure C The sequence for drawing the profile 4. Choose the Save button from the Standard toolbar to save the sketch.

 Exercise 1
Draw the base sketch of the model shown in Figure A. The sketch to be drawn is shown in Figure B. Use the geometric and dimensional constraints to complete this sketch. (Expected Time : 15 min)

Figure A Model for Exercise 1

Figure B Sketch for Exercise 1

 Exercise 2
Draw the base sketch of the model shown in Figure A. The sketch to be drawn is shown in Figure B. Use the geometric and dimensional constraints to complete this sketch. (Expected Time : 15 min)

Figure A Model for Exercise 2

Figure B Sketch for Exercise 2