Using Sketcher Menus
EDIT and SKETCH are top-level menus specific to the SKETCHER mode.
They contain all the commands needed in the sketching environment.
Figure 4: Edit Menu
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The INTENT MANAGER commands and the Text option are also available in the SKETCH menu.
Figure 5: Sketch Menu
Specifying References
In the SKETCHER mode you specify the references of the section when you:
• Create a new feature.
• Redefine a feature with missing or insufficient references.
• Provide references to place a section.
It is good practice to reference before sketching. This provides the
sketched entities a location to automatically align to and dimension from.
Note:
The references that you select for a section create Parent/Child relationships.
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Creating Geometry
SKETCHER mode enables the creation of geometrical shapes and entities.
The basic ones—lines, arcs, and circles—are discussed below.
• Lines – Using the Line fly-out icons in the INTENT MANAGER, you create two types of sketched lines:
ẵ Straight lines from point to point.
ẵ Centerlines for referencing or constraining entities.
Figure 6: Lines Fly-Out Icons
• Arcs – Using the Arcs fly-out icons in the INTENT MANAGER, you create four types of arcs:
ẵ An arc by 3 points or tangent to an entity at its endpoint.
ẵ A concentric arc.
ẵ An arc by selecting its center and endpoints.
ẵ A conic arc.
Figure 7: Arcs Fly-Out Icons
• Circles – Using the Circle fly-out icons in the INTENT MANAGER, you can create three types of circles:
ẵ A circle by selecting the center and a point on the circle.
ẵ A concentric circle.
ẵ A full ellipse.
Figure 8: Circle Fly-Out Icons
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Sketched circle
Concentric to this edge
Figure 9: Sketching a Concentric Circle to an Edge
Dimensioning
Once a sketch is complete, you dimension it. An orderly arrangement of dimensions helps visual clarity, particularly when the sketch gets complex.
To place dimensions in SKETCHER, you left-click to select the entity and middle-click to place the dimension. You can place a dimension at any point during or after sketching.
The following figure illustrates the simple dimensioning of a rectangle.
Figure 10: Creating Dimensions for a Rectangle
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Figure 11: Grabbing and Moving Dimensions
Modifying Dimensions
You can modify the dimensions values of a sketch in the MODIFY DIMENSIONS dialog box. You also have the options to Regenerate and
Lock Scale the sketch.
You can also double-click on a specific dimension in a sketch to dynamically change the value of the dimension. The SENSITIVITY scrollbar allows you to adjust the sensitivity of the control wheels when changing dimensions dynamically.
Figure 12: Modify Dimensions Dialog Box
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Constraining
Sketcher applies system default constraints to a sketch to establish the initial design intent. You can override the default constraints from the CONSTRAINTS dialog box.
Figure 13: Sketcher Constraints Dialog Box You can use the constraint options to:
1. Make a line or two vertices vertical.
2. Make two entities tangent.
3. Make two points or vertices symmetrical about a centerline.
4. Make a line or two vertices horizontal.
5. Place a point on the middle of the line.
6. Create equal lengths, equal radii, or same curvature constraint.
7. Make two entities perpendicular.
8. Creates same points or points on entities.
9. Make two lines parallel.
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Using the Additional Sketcher Tools
Edge
The Edge tool has two instances represented by its two fly-out icons in the Intent Manager, as shown below:
Figure 14 Edge Fly-Out Icons
• Use Edge – Uses an existing model edge to create sketched entities.
Automatically selects the edge as a specified reference.
Figure 15: Using Existing Model Edge to Create Sketched Entities
• Offset Edge – Uses existing model edge to create sketched entities at an offset distance.
Figure 16: Creating Sketched Entities at an Offset Distance
Note:
The Use Edge and Offset Edge options create parent/child relationships with the referenced feature.
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Copy
The Edit > Copy option copies 2-D drafts and imports entities from a drawing. You can move and scale a section, making legacy data easier to manipulate.
Mirror
You can mirror sketched entities from one side of a centerline to the other using the Edit > Mirror option.
Move
The MOVE ENTITY menu displays the following options:
• Drag Item – Moves an entity or its vertex to a new location.
• Drag Many – Translates selected entities within a sketch.
• Rotate90 – Rotates sketched entities about a specified point by multiples of 90 degrees.
• Dimension – Repositions a dimension within a sketch.
Trim
The Edit > Trim option shortens or extends an entity in three different ways corresponding to the three fly-out icons shown below:
Figure 17: Trim Fly-Out Icons
• The first dynamically trims section entities
• The second cuts or extends entities to other entities or geometry.
• The third divides an entity at the point of selection,replacing the original with two new entities.
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Replace
Replaces a sketched entity from the original section with a newly sketched entity.
Section Analysis
The Analysis > Section Analysis option provides you with information about:
• Intersection and tangency points.
• Angles and distances.
• Dimensioning references.
• Entity curvature display.
Sketcher Points
Sketcher points force coincidence among sketched entities and allow slanted dimensions between sketched entity end-points.
Figure 18: Midpoint Definition Using Sketcher Point
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Figure 19 Defining Theoretical Sharps Using Sketcher Points
Setting Sketcher Preferences
The SKETCHERPREFERENCES dialog box in the UTILITIES menu modifies the Sketcher environment.
Figure 20 Sketcher Preferences Dialog Box Use the SKETCHER PREFERENCES dialog box to:
• Modify the display options of various sketcher entities.
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• Setconstraints preferences by enabling or disabling constraints assumed by Sketcher.
• Set grid, grid spacing, and accuracy parameters.
• Click the Default button to reset the preferences.
Sketching in 3-D
When you select the Use2D Sketcher option from the ENVIRONMENT dialog box, Sketcher starts in a 2-D orientation (that is, with the sketching plane parallel to the computer screen).
When you do not select this option, the Sketcher starts in a 3-D
orientation. You can change the view orientation at any time and sketch in 3-D. Using View > Sketch View, you can re-orient a Sketcher section into the 2-D view while in Sketcher mode.
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Figure 21: The Environment Dialog Box
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