Simple way to nest two rectangular objects such that the air space between them is consistent?

Use "MTP" start the move or copy command and select the solid, then when it asks you for a base point type "MTP" (mid two points - you can also use "M2P") and then select two diagonally opposite corners on the top face of the solid, this makes your base point the centre of that face, and then when you are prompted for the second point use "MTP" again and select 2 diagonals on the top opening of the box. Which in this case works out perfectly well, the gap at the bottom is the same as around the edges, but that is possibly more luck than judgement. Otherwise you would probably have to make two placements first use the bottom of the solid and inside bottom of the box and then move the solid up by the distance of the "air gap"

I see my post is also published without attachement. It seems uploading attachments takes some time.

@Jim Canale you can use the mid point of the long sides opposed to each other, even on the corner curves there is a point at which they meet that would work as diagonals. I can well understand that sometimes it would be different, but "MTP" can help in a lot of cases, another option would be to look at point filters and tracking points

Point filters are a way to enter just one value at a time. For example, you type ".x" to enter the x value of the coordinates. This permits you to do things like move something horizontally by choosing .y and then just clicking anywhere with the orthographic lock set. Then, perhaps use an object snap to choose an existing object that shows where to move it along the x axis.

Another potential option, that would not work for objects, but only for polygon rectangles, is the center snap. Yes, in BricsCAD, a rectangle has a "center". It is the geometric center of the rectangle.

-Joe

@Jim Canale said:
I work a lot with rectangular sheet metal housings that have to nest together. In most cases, there is an airgap or gasket between the two parts. It's very easy to use a concentric constraint to place a cylinder inside another cylinder, but I haven't yet found a convenient way to center a rectangular object within a rectangular cavity. Was hoping someone can tell me the fastest most efficient way to do this.

The attached drawing contains a box and a block. I'd like to drop the block into the box, such that 5 sides of the block are equidistant from 5 walls. Anyone have any idea?

Converting the two sheetmetal objects to components allows you to use the component (Block) UCS to constrain with. It requires 3 constraints one for each plane. Attach your example done this way. Move the box and the insert will move with it.

Earlier versions of BricsCAD didn't have WCS/UCS constraint options. You can still do it, but would need to create some dummy (helper) surfaces in the component for each plane, then constrain to those in the assembly,

Regards,
Jason Bourhill
CAD Concepts

Come to the Australasia BricsCAD Conference

@Jim Canale said:
Thanks for your reply. Opened your assembly and moved the box. The insert did NOT move with the box. I opened the mechanical browser and noticed two coincident constraints marked in RED, whose objects are block / component references. You said I needed THREE constraints, one for each plane. I'm using V17. Perhaps that is the reason why the constraints broke. Also, I don't understand what you said about the component "UCS". How are component references / insertion points specified? Is there a 3D constraint that will work with the UCS origin of a component?

Insert did NOT move with box
I did state that with earlier versions of BricsCAD you needed to use a different method. A limitation on this forum is that users can't state the version of BricsCAD they are using. There are different versions and levels of BricsCAD. User experience will differ depending on what they are using. If you don't state how would I know?

Is it possible in V17? Yes, but you must use some helper (Jigs, bucks, what ever you prefer to call them) solids. You use these helper solids to apply your constraints to. With this you can mimic constraining by a plane or axis. Attach examples of both.

You also don't need create components to do this. In the attached Axis example I've used rigid constraints to group and lock the objects to each other, then applied the mating constraints.

You said I needed THREE constraints
My mistake on the V19 example, I omitted one of the constraints, I guess I'm human after all.
Fixed in the attached. I believe you will need V18 as a minimum to work with this one. As you've noted, V17 ignores the applied constraints.

UCS terminology won't make sense with V17 or earlier, as it wasn't a feature with constraints then.

Regards,
Jason Bourhill
CAD Concepts

Come to the Australasia BricsCAD Conference