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jnelson14-Alexandrite
14-Alexandrite
March 1, 2010
Question

Sketcher Intent Manager

  • March 1, 2010
  • 55 replies
  • 15381 views

During a recent PTC/USER Technical Committee meeting we had a discussion about the Sketcher Intent Manager.

This discussion made me curious as to if there are still users that find the need to turn off the Intent Manager, which is why I am writing.

If there is anyone that still turns off the Sketcher Intent Manager, can you please respond to the questions below?

1. What are the circumstances that causes you to turn off the Intent Manager?

2. If you are importing data, is this done as a "normal" sketch with the intent to drive geometry with that sketch, or as a cosmetic sketch where you are probably not looking to drive geometry?

Please note that the reason of "Because it is annoying", is NOT specific enough.

In order to present the need for this, I need specific use cases (models and/or written) in which users turn off intent manager and still want to do something non-cosmetic with the resulting sketch.

Thanks....

Joel Nelson

PTC/USER Sheetmetal TC Chair


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janderson21-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 4, 2010
I have to turn off intent manager on a semi regular basis (maybe once a month). The main reason for this is that it creates weak dimensions but, if I dimension according to the way that I want the sketch, it will sometimes keeps the weak dimension and tries to force me to deletemy dimensiondue to the sketch being over constrained. Even if I make the weak dimension strong it generally does not give me the option of deleting it when I add mine. Running WF4.
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anagnost1-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 4, 2010
Doug,

I completely disagree with automatically turning weak dimensions to
strong ones when you exit the sketcher. The dimensions are there, even
if they are strong or weak, you can always modify them.

Many times you have to exit the sketcher with an incomplete (not fully
dimensioned or constrained) sketch. Later on, when you are returning
back to the sketcher, you know that you have to do some work with the
weak dimensions... Also, when you are reviewing somebody else's models,
weak dimensions is a point that you have to consider.

Vassilis Anagnostopoulos*
*
O/H Doug Schaefer ?γραψε:
> Chris,
>
> Regarding your #3, every entity in sketcher is fully constrained when
> you create it. Pro|E throws dims and constraints on it to do so.
> What might be nice is a color break for user added constraints/dims vs
> Pro|E assumptions. It's there, sorta, in the gray vs. yellow, but
> some constraints come in yellow rather than gray. It'd be great if
> everything created by Pro|E was gray and everything created by the
> user or converted into strong by the user was yellow.
>
> I'd love an option to automatically turn all dims and constraints to
> strong when exiting sketcher. Sometimes I like the constraints that
> Pro|E adds, but going through one by one and 'strengthening' them is
> tedious. Exiting sketcher says I like the way it is, make it strong.
>
> *Doug Schaefer*
> 
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dgschaefer21-Topaz II
21-Topaz II
March 4, 2010
I can certainly see that this wouldn't be a universal request. Perhaps a config option to allow for this behavior if a user desires it.

More consistent handling of weak constraints is definitely needed. All Pro|E generated dims and constraints should be weak and weak dims & constraints should always be the first to be removed when there is a conflict.

Doug Schaefer
B
bkurth10-Marble
10-Marble
March 5, 2010

Personally, I would like to be prompted upon exit of whether I am complete, or not. If I am complete, then all weak dims could be made strong, otherwise the dims would be stored where they are. The issue I have with weak dims is when we say we'll "get back to them," many times we don't. Then later wemake a change and things happen we do not want—sometimes without our knowledge, if we're working on someone else's model, for example.

Brian

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pauldelong1-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 5, 2010
I agree, this would be good for weak dimensions and weak constraints



Paul


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jonfawcett1-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 5, 2010
As a consulting company, we have to use the CAD our clients' ask for and
I've had had to do quite a bit in SolidWorks this week. I am going to jump
in and say that I will never complain about Sketcher or IM. It's amazing how
easy it is to find fault with something until you've used something that is
significantly worse. As a Pro/E user since 1993 Rev 7, I'd peg the quality
of SW's sketcher at nearly the quality of Pro/E's in Rev 7. I'll take
auto-created weak dimensions any day vs. a software that allows me to
complete a sketch with no dimensions.



Jon





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ptc-466741-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 5, 2010

what is the benefit of converting weak dimension to strong ?

I usually don't mess around with changing weak dimensions to strong.

as long as they are attached to the reference that I want.

Dave McClinton

Sr. Mechanical Designer / System Admin

McKessson Autoamtion

724 741 7760

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mainman1-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 5, 2010
On the drafting side of things, the weak dimensions basically become
strong when you place the parametric dimensions on the views. I
personally would prefer if weak dimensions didn't show at all on the
drawings or they would be grayed out like they are on the sketcher.



Sincerely,

Rick L.
Design Draftsman: Husky Corporation



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pfariello1-Visitor
1-Visitor
March 5, 2010
As a user who does not us IM, would someone please explain what weak dimensions are? I can imagine but I would like to be sure.

Thanks,

Patrick
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dgschaefer21-Topaz II
21-Topaz II
March 5, 2010
For me, dimensions communicate design intent. When I see a weak dim in
a sketch, that communicates to me that design intent isn't captured, at
least not intentionally. It may be that the last person wanted it this
way or it could be that they just went with what Pro|E thought was good.
Now, if I want to modify that I need to do more digging into the model
to see if it's the intended dim or a convenient one. Strengthening
them, if I want to keep them, communicates to the next guy (usually me,
6-12 months later) that this is exactly what I want.

There's nothing wrong with them, per se, they control geometry the same.
The only functional limitation is that they will disappear without
prompting (usually) if there's a conflict between them and newly placed
dims or constraints.

Doug Schaefer
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