2 Sketch Constraint Secrets You Should Know

1. Disable Automatic Sketch Constraints

Many Fusion 360 users get frustrated with the creation of automatic sketch constraints. Fusion 360 will create sketchEnters Sketch mode and creates a new sketch on a selected plane or face. Select Finish Sketch to exit out of the mode. constraints automatically based on the sketch grid and spatial relationships.

Sometimes they’re handy and sometimes they’re just flat out annoying.

Unfortunately, there is currently not an option within the preferences that can permanently disable the creation of automatic constraints. Such a setting would certainly be nice for specific projects or workflows.

Vertical Constraint Appears Automatically

Disable Automatic Constraints

There is a very subtle trick that most Fusion 360 users aren’t aware of. You can hold down the CTRL key (CMD on Mac OS) to disable the auto-creation of constraints while creating any piece of sketch geometry.

Note: This works everywhere except the origin pointCreates a sketch point.. By design, sketch geometry will always snap and add a coincident constraint to the origin point.

2. Display a List of Constraints Used

Between the creation of automatic constraints and manual constraints, it doesn’t take long to have several constraints in any given sketch.

Some Fusion 360 users have been asking for a way to see a list of all constraints used within a design file or a component. Currently, you can only see constraints assigned to the selected piece(s) of sketch geometry.

What most Fusion 360 users’ don’t know is that such a feature exists on the web-based version of Fusion 360. (Queue the “What! There’s a web-based version?”).

Here’s how to view a list of constraints in the Browser-based Fusion 360.

1. Open up your desired file in the native Fusion 360 app (Mac or Windows app).
2. SelectThe selection mode controls how objects are select when you drag in the canvas. the File menu
3. Select View Detail on WebUses an open sketch curve to create a thin feature. The web is created normal (perpendicular) to the sketch plane. Select the curve then specify the thickness.
4. This will open your file in the A360 hub. You will then need to click the “Edit in BrowserThe browser lists objects in your design (everything from planes and sketches to parts and assemblies). Use the browser to make changes to objects and control visibility of objects.” button.
5. Fusion 360 will open your file in the web-based version of Fusion 360 (beta, note that functionality is limited)
6. Toggle open your Component > Sketches > SketchName. You will then see a Constraints folder, which can be toggled open to lists all of the constraints used throughout your design.

Click on constraints within the constraints folder to see where they’re applied in the canvas window.

It would be great to see this web-based feature in the native Fusion 360 app. If you’ve got 30 seconds to spare then comment “+1” on this thread of the ideastation.

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