How To Use Geometric Constraints in Fusion 360 2D CAD

Fusion360 / By / 2D CAD, TDJ3M

Constraints in sketches

The tools in the Sketch > Constraints panel let you constrain sketches by controlling the relative position of sketch geometry in Fusion 360.

You can use the following commands to constrain sketches:

Note: Before you can create sketch geometry, you must use the Create Sketch command create sketch icon to create a new sketch or right-click an existing sketch and select Edit Sketch to enter the Sketch contextual environment.

Horizontal/Vertical

The Horizontal/Vertical command constrains a single line, or two points, to lie on either the horizontal or vertical axis, whichever is closer to the current alignment.

horizontal/vertical constraint example

Coincident

The Coincident command constrains the position of two points or a point and a line or curve together.

This could be a point constrained along a line, two points constrained to each other, or a point constrained along a curve.

coincident constraint example

Tangent

The Tangent command constrains a curve and another object so that they touch at a single point but never cross each other.

tangent constraint example

Equal

The Equal command constrains similar objects so that their sizes are identical. When the size of one object changes, the others adjust, too.

tangent constraint example

Parallel

The Parallel command constrains two lines so that they extend in the same direction and never intersect.

tangent constraint example

Perpendicular

The Perpendicular command constrains two objects so that they lie perpendicular (at a 90-degree angle) to each other.

tangent constraint example

Fix/UnFix

The Fix/UnFix command locks the size and location of a point or object.

tangent constraint example

Midpoint

The Midpoint command constrains a point or object to the midpoint of another object.

tangent constraint example

Concentric

The Concentric command constrains two or more arcs, circles, or ellipses to the same center point.

tangent constraint example

Collinear

The Collinear command constrains two or more objects so that they share a common line.

This could be a line and a rectangle, where the line and one edge of the rectangle lie along the same line.

tangent constraint example

Symmetry

The Symmetry command constrains two or more objects so that they are symmetrical (identical to each other in relation to a common axis).

tangent constraint example

Curvature

The Curvature command constrains two or more objects to create a smooth, continuous curvature between them (G2 continuity).

tangent constraint example