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Understanding the workflow

The Extrude feature workflow offers several options:

1. From within an active sketch with appropriate geometry, click the Extrude toolbar icon.

2. Set the Extrude feature options.

3. Click OK.

Or:

1. With no sketch active, click the Extrude toolbar icon.

2. Select an existing sketch with appropriate geometry.

3. Set the Extrude feature options.

4. Click OK.

Or:

1. With no sketch active, click the Extrude toolbar icon.

2. Select a plane on which to create a sketch to extrude.

3. Create your sketch.

4. Exit the sketch using the Confirmation Corner icon.

5. Set the Extrude feature options.

6. Click OK.

Understanding Instant 3D

Instant 3D is the tool that enables you to use the mouse to pull arrows or handles on the screen to establish various dimension parameters for features like extrude, revolve, fillet, and even move face. Not every dimension feature parameter is editable in this way. In some cases Instant 3D offers you convenient ways to edit geometry without needing to figure out which feature is responsible for which faces. With Instant 3D, you simply pull on handles on the screen to move and resize sketches, and features including fillets.

Creating extrudes with Instant 3D

Instant 3D enables you to select a sketch or a sketch contour and drag the Instant 3D arrow to create either a blind extruded boss or cut. The workflow when using this function requires that the sketch be closed. Instant 3D cannot be used to create a thin feature, and any sketch or contour that it uses must be a closed loop. Sketches must also be shown (not hidden) in order to be used with Instant 3D.

Note

Even though the words “Instant 3D” suggest that you should be able to instantly create 3D geometry from a sketch that you may have just created, you do have to close the sketch first to get instant functionality. In this case, Instant 3D requires the sketch to be closed (as in not active) and closed (as in not an open loop).

Figure 7.7 shows Instant 3D arrows for extruding a sketch into a solid and the ruler to establish blind extrusion depth. These extrusions were done from a single sketch with three concentric circles, using contour selection.

FIGURE 7.7

Identifying Instant 3D interface elements

Even after you create an extruded boss, you can use Instant 3D to drag it in the other direction to change the boss into an extruded cut. When you do this, the symbol on the feature changes, but the name does not.

If you have a sketch that requires contour selection, SolidWorks automatically hides the sketch, and to continue with Instant 3D functionality using additional contours selected from that sketch, you will have to show the sketch again. This interrupts the workflow and makes using this functionality less fluid than it might otherwise be. I only mention it here so that you are aware of what is happening when the sketch disappears and the Instant 3D functionality disappears with it.

You can also continue to create extrudes using contours of a consumed sketch by just clicking on the sketch so that it displays highlighted, and is only shown temporarily. This is a shortcut so that you don't have to repeatedly show the sketch every time — you just select it.

If geometry already exists in the part, and you drag a new feature into the existing solid, SolidWorks assumes you want to make a cut. However, maybe you are really trying to make a boss that comes out the other side of the part. These context toolbars enable you to do this. Options include boss, cut, and draft. The draft option enables you to add draft to a feature created with Instant 3D.

While Instant 3D can only create extruded bosses and cuts, it can edit revolves. If you create a revolved feature revolving the sketch, say, 270°, the face created at the angle can be edited by Instant 3D dragging. You can also drag faces created by any under-defined sketch elements.

Editing geometry with Instant 3D

Instant 3D enables you to edit 2D