SolidWorks 2011 Parts Bible - Matt Lombard [43]
• If you are using the grid, it displays only in Sketch mode.
While most users find the sketch grid annoying or distracting, when teaching, I've always used the grid to remind students when they are in Sketch mode. If you forget or would like a visual cue, the sketch grid is a useful option.
Opening a Sketch
Sketches must be either open or closed, and you can only have one sketch open at a time. SolidWorks uses many indicators to show the state of a sketch, including the Confirmation Corner and the Task Bar.
Several methods exist to open new sketches in SolidWorks:
• Click a sketch entity toolbar button from the Sketch toolbar; SolidWorks prompts you to select a sketch plane. When you select the plane, the sketch opens.
• Preselect a plane or planar face and then click either a sketch entity button or the Sketch button.
• Use the left mouse button to click context toolbar — click a face or plane and select the Sketch icon.
• Use the right mouse button (RMB) to click a plane or planar face and select Insert Sketch. Planes can be selected from either the graphics window or the FeatureManager.
You can open existing sketches several ways:
• Right-click a sketch in the FeatureManager or graphics window, and select Edit Sketch.
• Select a sketch from the FeatureManager or graphics window, and click the Sketch button on the Sketch toolbar.
• Left-click a sketch or feature and click the Edit Sketch icon from the context toolbar.
• Double-click a sketch with the Instant 3D tool active.
Identifying Sketch Entities
The first step in creating most SolidWorks parts is a sketch. This will usually be a 2D sketch, although you can also use 3D sketches. A 2D sketch is simply a collection of 2D lines, arcs, and other elements that lie together on a plane; it usually also contains relations and/or dimensions between the entities so that the sketch can automatically adjust to changes because each sketch entity understands its function.
SolidWorks sketch entities include many types, some of which you will use all the time, and some of which you may not use, even if you spend years working with the software. Next, I identify each entity type. This enables you to see it at least once and know that it is available if you need it at some point.
Using the Sketch toolbar
In this section, I identify the default buttons on the Sketch toolbar, followed by the rest of the entities that you can access by choosing Tools⇒Customize⇒Commands⇒Sketch.
The Sketch tool opens and closes sketches. You may notice that the name of the button changes depending on if the sketch is open or closed. If you preselect a plane or planar face and then click the Sketch button, SolidWorks opens a new sketch on the plane or face. If you preselect a sketch before clicking the Sketch button, SolidWorks opens this sketch. If you preselect an edge or curve feature before clicking the Sketch button, SolidWorks automatically makes a plane perpendicular to the nearest end of the curve from the location you picked. If you do not use preselection, and only click the Sketch tool with nothing selected, SolidWorks prompts you to select a plane or planar face on which you want to put a new sketch, or an existing sketch to edit.
The 3D Sketch tool opens and closes 3D sketches with no preselection required. 3D sketch is covered in more detail in Chapter 31.
The Smart Dimension tool can create all types of dimensions used in SolidWorks, such as horizontal, vertical, aligned, radial, diameter, angle, and arc length. You can create dimensions several ways, as shown in Figure 3.1:
• By selecting a line and placing the dimension
• By selecting the endpoints of the line and placing the dimension
• By selecting a line and a point and placing the dimension
• By selecting a pair of parallel lines and placing the dimension
Figure 3.1
Selection options for linear Smart Dimension
Selecting the line is the easiest and fastest method. Selecting parallel lines on the ends is not recommended because if you delete either of the