Donate

Vertical distance

Auto radius/diameter

Sketcher

Description

The Sketcher ConstrainDistance tool fixes the length of a line, the distance between two points, the perpendicular distance between a point and a line; or, introduced in 0.21, the distance between the edges of two circles or arcs, or between the edge of a circle or arc and a line; or, introduced in 1.0, the length of an arc.

Usage

See also: Drawing aids.

Continue mode

1. Make sure there is no selection.
2. There are several ways to invoke the tool:
   • introduced in 1.0: If the Dimensioning constraints preference is set to Single tool (default): press the down arrow to the right of the button and select the Constrain distance option from the dropdown.
   • If this preference has a different value (and in 0.21 and below): press the Constrain distance button.
   • Select the Sketch → Sketcher constraints → Constrain distance option from the menu.
   • introduced in 1.0: Right-click in the 3D view and select the Dimension → Constrain distance option from the context menu.
   • Use the keyboard shortcut K then D.
3. The cursor changes to a cross with the tool icon.
4. Do one of the following:
   • Select a single line.
   • Select two points.
   • Select a point and a line (in that order).
5. If a driving dimensional constraint is created, depending on the preferences, a dialog opens to edit its value.
6. A constraint is added.
7. Optionally keep creating constraints.
8. To finish, right-click or press Esc, or start another geometry or constraint creation tool

Run-once mode

1. Do one of the following:
   • Select a single line.
   • Select two points.
   • Select a point and a line (in any order).
   • Select the edges of two circles or arcs.
   • Select the edge of a circle or arc and a line (idem).
   • introduced in 1.0: Select the edge of a single arc.
2. Invoke the tool as explained above.
3. Optionally edit the constraint value.
4. A constraint is added.

Notes

• If applicable please consider using Horizontal distance or Vertical distance constraints instead. They are more efficient.

Scripting

Distance from origin:

Sketch.addConstraint(Sketcher.Constraint('Distance', Edge, PointOfEdge, -1, 1, App.Units.Quantity('123.0 mm')))

Distance between two vertices:

Sketch.addConstraint(Sketcher.Constraint('Distance', Edge1, PointOfEdge1, Edge2, PointOfEdge2, App.Units.Quantity('123.0 mm')))

Length of line (the GUI allows selecting the edge itself, but it is just a shorthand for using the two extremities of the same line):

Sketch.addConstraint(Sketcher.Constraint('Distance', Line, 1, Line, 2, App.Units.Quantity('123.0 mm')))

Distance from point (Edge, PointOfEdge) to perpendicular point on line (Line):

Sketch.addConstraint(Sketcher.Constraint('Distance', Edge, PointOfEdge, Line, 0, App.Units.Quantity('123.0 mm')))

Distance between the edges of two circles:

Sketch.addConstraint(Sketcher.Constraint('Distance', Circle1, 0, Circle2, 0, App.Units.Quantity('123.0 mm')))

The Sketcher scripting page explains the values which can be used for Edge, Edge1, Edge2, PointOfEdge, PointOfEdge1, PointOfEdge2, Line, Circle1 and Circle2, and contains further examples on how to create constraints from Python scripts.

Vertical distance

Auto radius/diameter

Sketcher