DesignSpark Mechanical Online Help

Sketching

 

Sketching is useful if you want to create a region that can be pulled into 3D. If you want to create a 2D layout, and have no immediate need to generate 3D objects from the lines in the layout, then you should create a layout.

Use the sketch tools to sketch shapes in 2D. When you exit the sketch, regions are formed by intersecting lines. These regions will become solids and lines become edges when you pull your sketch into 3D with the PullClosed tool. Even when pulled into 3D, a region can be decomposed back into its sketched lines for further editing as long as any remnant of the lines is still unused in 3D.

 

 

To use any of the sketch tools to sketch in 2D, you must first display the sketch grid. If you have a planar surface highlighted, and press a sketch tool shortcut (such as L for the LineClosed tool), you can mouse over planar surfaces in the design to highlight surfaces for the sketch grid. (Press Esc while in this state to return to the Select tool in 3D mode.) You can adjust the units and spacing of the grid, and we recommend that you fade the scene under the grid to enhance the visibility of your sketch.

You can lock the base dimension base point when sketching multiple objects.  Locking a base point enables you to secure the dimensions of an object relative to that point, or, the dimensions of an object relative to any object you previously sketched. As you sketch, you can enter coordinates for each successive point relative to the previous point.

While you are sketching, you may need to orient your design. If you use the SpinClosed, PanClosed, or Zoom tools to reorient the sketch, click the navigation tool again or press Esc to continue sketching where you left off.

If you select Auto-extrude/revolve sketches in Section modeClosed in the Advanced options, sketching in Section mode will automatically extrude your sketch to 3D. The extrusion depth is set to 10 times the spacing of your sketch grid. You can dimension this depth for any extruded sketch by entering a value in that dimension field. If your are sketching on an already revolved face, the sketch is automatically revolved.

When you copy and paste sketch objects, they are placed in their original location relative to the center of the grid. The objects will be highlighted when you paste, so you can easily move them to a different position.

Sketched objects are added to the Curves folder in the Structure treeClosed as you create them. If the list of sketch curves is long, then you will see More Curves in the list. Click More Curves to display the entire list.

 

ClosedDetailed instructions

To lock a base point

  1. Enter Sketch mode.

  2. Select the Cartesian dimensions option in the Sketch Options panelClosed.

  3. Select the Lock base point checkbox in the Sketch Options panelClosed.

  4. Place the sketch on the sketch grid relative to your chosen dimensions from the locked base dimension base point.

To change the location of a base point

  1. While in Sketch mode, while hovering over the base dimension point from which you want to take a dimension, press Shift to dimension between the selected object and that point.

  2. Click and drag the line or point you want to edit.

    The Cartesian dimensions are now taken from this new base dimension base point. 

To edit a sketch

  1. Click the Select tool. (You can also press Esc if you are in a sketching tool.)

  2. Click and drag the line or point you want to edit.

    Alt+click and drag if you want to detach the line or point before moving it.

    Ctrl+click and drag to create a copy.

    Enter a value to dimension the move.

    You can also use the Move tool to edit a sketch.

To toggle between a curve and a construction curve

Right-click the curve and select Construction On/Off.

To mirror in Sketch mode

  1. Draw a line or construction line.

  2. Right-click the line and select Set as MirrorClosed LineClosed from the context menu.

  3. Sketch on one side of the line to mirror the sketch on the other side.

    You can only mirror geometry drawn after you set the mirror line. If you want to mirror existing geometry, use the Mirror tool.

Sketch ribbon group

The tools on the left side of the ribbon group are used to create sketch and construction curves. The tools framed by the lighter area on the right are used to edit sketches.

The Sketch ribbon group contains the following sketch creation tools:

 

Use the Line tool to sketch lines in 2D.

Use the Tangent Line tool to sketch lines tangent to any curves in your design.

Use the Construction Line tool to draw lines that help you create an accurate sketch. These lines become axes in 3D mode.

Use the Rectangle tool to draw a rectangle along the axes of the sketch grid.

Use the Three-Point Rectangle tool to quickly sketch a rectangle at any angle in 2D.

Use the Ellipse tool to sketch an ellipse in 2D.

Use the Circle tool to sketch a circle in 2D when you know the location of the circle's center and radius, diameter, or a point on the circle's edge.

Use the Three-Point Circle tool when you don’t know the center of the circle, but you know where the edge of the circle must be. This tool works with any combination of free points, known points, or tangent attachments.

Use the Polygon tool to sketch a polygon with up to 32 sides.

Use the Tangent Arc tool to sketch an arc tangent to any single curve or line in your design.

Use the Three-Point Arc tool to create an arc by specifying its start and end points, and the radius or chord angle.

Use the Sweep Arc tool to create an arc with a known center and end points.

Use the Spline tool to sketch splines in 2D. A spline is a continuously curved line, without sharp boundaries (that is, without vertices).

Use the Point tool to sketch points in 2D.

Use the Face Curve tool to sketch a curve on a face of a solid.

 

The Sketch ribbon group contains the following sketch editing tools:

 

Use the Create Rounded Corner tool to trim back or connect two intersecting lines or arcs so that they meet with an arc tangent at both ends.

Use the Offset Curve tool to create an offset of any line in the grid plane.

Use the Project to Sketch tool to project edges from a 3D object onto the sketch grid.

Use the Create Corner tool to trim back or extend two lines so that they meet at a corner.

Use the Trim Away tool to delete any line portion bounded by an intersection with a line or edge.

Use the Split Curve tool to split one line with another line or point.

Sketching tool guides

The sketching tools have several tool guides that allow you to change the behavior of the tool. These guides are active when appropriate:

 

Use Select Reference CurveClosed to dimension a sketch based on an existing curve.

Use MoveClosed DimensionClosed Base PointClosed to move the base point from your starting point to a different location. This is useful when you want to control the distance between your new sketch and existing object.

Use Change DimensionClosed Reference Angle to dimension a sketch based on a reference angle from a point on an existing object.

Sketching mini-toolbar

While you are sketching, the mini-toolbar provides quick access to the following actions:

 

Click Return to 3D ModeClosed to switch to the PullClosed tool and pull your sketch into 3D. Any closed loops will form surfaces or faces. Intersecting lines will split faces.

Click SelectNew Sketch PlaneClosed to select a new face to sketch on.

Click MoveClosed GridClosed to move or rotate the current sketch grid with the MoveClosed handle.

Click Plan ViewClosed for a head-on view of the sketch grid.

Options

The following options are available for every sketch tool:


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