Perpendicular Relation
The Perpendicular relation makes two lines meet at a right angle, and keeps them that way as the sketch changes.
When to Use It
- Make a corner exactly square
- Keep a rib or a leg square to a base line
- Tie a line square to a part edge
Step by Step
- Open a sketch and draw the pieces (see Lines, Circles and Rectangles). Sketching is part of modeling, which comes with the Pro plans.
- Click Select on the Sketch tab (or press S).
- Click one line, then click the second line. Pick exactly two.
- Keep the pointer still for about half a second. A bar titled Add a relation to the N selected opens beside it, with one button for each relation that fits. Click Perpendicular. Instead of waiting for the bar, you can right-click the selection and choose Perpendicular under Make them, or click Perpendicular under Add a relation in the Properties panel.
- A small green square marks the relation on the sketch, and a message says Perpendicular added. It stays true as you move and resize; Edit, Constraints lists it. Ctrl+Z takes it back.
Options
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Picks | Exactly two lines. A part edge can be one of them. With three or more lines picked, Perpendicular is not offered. |
| Result | The second line turns until it is at a right angle to the first. |
| Which one gives | The held piece stays and the other turns (see The Anchor Rule on the Relations page). |
| Listed as | Perpendicular. |
Tips
- Perpendicular sets the angle only. The lines do not have to touch; add Coincident Relation to join their ends.
- A rectangle already has square corners. You only need this relation for lines you drew yourself.
- To type an angle other than 90 degrees, use Angle Dimensions.
- A line you draw with two points (or one press and drag) is a single line. A chain drawn with more clicks, a rectangle and a polygon are each one piece, so line relations are not offered for them as a whole. Right-click and choose Break apart to get single lines (see Select).
If Something Goes Wrong
- "Perpendicular cannot hold together with the relations already there. Nothing changed." Something already placed (another relation, a typed size or a Fix) fights this one. Delete the one in the way from the list under Edit (see Edit Menu) and try again.
- "Perpendicular already holds through the relations you have, so nothing was added." The sketch already forces this, so nothing more is needed.
- The button is not in the bar. The bar only lists relations that fit what you picked. Check what is selected in the Selected list of the Properties panel. If the panel says None fits this selection. Pick another point, piece or part edge with it., change the picks.
- "Perpendicular applied once: the relation solver could not load, so it will not be kept." The piece moved once but nothing was stored. Check your connection and add it again.