13-Aquamarine

Question

Sketch choosing wrong solution

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So, I've sketched a revolved cut. (The part is cut into a segment for Mechanica cyclic symmetry.)

With the length at 9, it works. If I edit the value, it seems to have a random chance of simply stretching the geometry, or turning the arc inside out!

... but then works again at another value.

I've dimensioned plenty of sketches like this over the years, but this one started causing problems doing a Sensitivity Study in Mechanica.

Is this likely to be an accuracy thing, or something else?

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T

TomD.inPDX

17-Peridot

I've been having all kinds of similar problems in Creo 2.0. I have a spline that changes points out of the blue when I edit a completely indepent feature. I've been playing with the accuracy in this file and nothing makes a difference. It is just unstable.

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K

KrisR

1-Visitor

Just for giggles, what happens if you input the 10.5 value as -10.5?

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J

JonathanHodgson

Author

13-Aquamarine

Go figure...

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B

BrianMartin

13-Aquamarine

Hi Jonathan...

I've had weird issues with sketches in the past. They're rare but they've happened to me before.

I can't say I know why you're having the problem- but I have a potential solution to fix it. Or... at least "patch" it so you can continue work.

Try changing the arc from being driven by the "R6" radial dimension. Instead, convert that arc to a perimeter dimension using the "R6" as a reference. It would look similar to below (click for a larger image)...

This way, you can lock that perimeter dimension and sketcher can't force the arc to flip. You'll still have the same radius but the arc can't go haywire when you're attempting to use those "middle values" that flip the sketch.

Sorry I don't have a better answer but this might get you through!

Good luck!

-Brian

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J

JonathanHodgson

Author

13-Aquamarine

A colleague had the simplest 'fix': sketch that feature with a vertical step instead of the R6 arc, then add an edge-to-surf round.

Still stupid that it can't solve consistently for all values, though.

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B

BrianMartin

13-Aquamarine

Okay no fair! You have to make it work in ONE feature using a sketch... using multiple features is cheating!

Just kidding... glad you got it to work!!

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Patriot_1776

22-Sapphire II

I've seen some weird stuff in sketcher too. I tend to use pretty complex sketches in my top-down design, especially if I'm doing any motion, and I've seen some bizarre stuff. As you saw, usually with arcs flipping. Sometimes what I'll do is simply delete the offending arcs and put them in again, using "replace" if the arc is used elsewhere.

Here's a thought I just had: Try adding a tangent construction line (as shown dotted) or arc to the end that keep flipping, and constrain that. This way the arc cannot flip without breaking a constraint elsewhere.

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B

BrianMartin

13-Aquamarine

Ah... another sharp solution, Frank. I couldn't have thought of that.

I think we're basically all trying to do the same thing- use some mechanism within sketcher to contrain the sketch such that it cannot flip. There are probably other ways to do this beyond the ones we've mentioned.

Does anyone remember the OLD sketcher having this problem? Hehe... don't answer that. I don't want to open another can of worms.

Regards,

-Brian

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Patriot_1776

22-Sapphire II

I wouldn't say "couldn't" there Brian. Knowing you, I'm sure you would have.

I want to see if the above would work for Jonathan, hope he tries it.

Ahh, yes, I think the pre-intent-manager sketcher (v19?) was a little more stable, but I like the new one better overall because it's faster and better most times. I DO believe the best solution would be to eliminate the "intelligent" sketcher trying to find solutions and/or dimensions, and be more like AutoCAD where all the "constraints" (not truly a constraint, but the closest analogy) are all dictated by the user alone. On complicated sketches, like logo's, I'll turn off all the automatic constraints first. Speaking of that, I wish sketcher had a mode where you could import line entities (as from A/C) as a block, being able to scale and rotate, but having it all be one entity unless you "exploded" it. And even then, not have any constraints or dimensions unless you ADDED them.

Ahh well.....