Glass Box Visualization

In 2D CAD systems, you think of projecting the views of a 3D model onto the sides of a glass box to visualize the 2D drawings...Visualize the 2D drawings folded up onto the sides of the glass box and projected into a 3D...The following example started as a 2D drawing and was converted into a 3D model

3D ContentCentral

3D ContentCentral® is a free service for locating, configuring, downloading, and requesting 3D parts and assemblies, 2D blocks, library features, and...Click 3D ContentCentral to learn more about this service

Cutting in 2D to 3D

You can cut features using Cut on the 2D to 3D toolbar with partial sketches...Click Cut on the 2D to 3D toolbar, or click Tools, Sketch Tools, 2D to 3D, Cut, and click in the graphics area to establish the direction of the cut...NOTE: For 2D to 3D conversion, you can specify the depth of a blind cut by selecting a sketch entity

Using Imported 2D CAD Data

You can use legacy 2D CAD data by importing it into SolidWorks and you can convert 2D CAD drawings into 3D models...Layers in imported 2D CAD drawings are retained in SolidWorks...The 2D to 3D conversion process is usually faster than redesigning the part in SolidWorks

Example of Cutting in 2D to 3D Conversion

Example of Cutting in 2D to 3D Conversion...Click Cut on the 2D to 3D toolbar and click in the graphics area to establish the direction of the cut

Example of Jog Lines

A jog with dimensions in a 2D sketch line...Jogs in 3D sketch lines in different planes.

Moving from 2D to 3D

As a 2D CAD system user, you think about designing and drawing a certain way, and you are accustomed to using certain tools...Moving from 2D to 3D...Approach to Modeling (2D versus 3D

Extruding in 2D to 3D

You can extrude base features and other features using Extrude on the 2D to 3D toolbar with partial sketches...Click Extrude on the 2D to 3D toolbar, or click Tools, Sketch Tools, 2D to 3D, Extrude, and click in the graphics area to establish the direction of...NOTE: For 2D to 3D conversion, you can specify the depth of a blind extrusion by selecting a sketch entity

Hole Wizard Creates 2D Sketches by Default

The Hole Wizard creates a 2D sketch unless you...select a nonplanar face or explicitly request a 3D sketch...clicking a planar surface to create a 3D sketch

Example of Extruding in 2D to 3D Conversion

Example of Extruding in 2D to 3D Conversion Select the sketch entities (in the Front sketch at the ...

2D to 3D Conversion Overview

You can convert 2D sketches into 3D models...The 2D sketch can be an imported drawing, or it can be a sketch constructed in SolidWorks...The tools for the conversion process are on the 2D to 3D Toolbar

2D to 3D Toolbar

The 2D to 3D tools help you convert a 2D drawing to a 3D part...The selected sketch entities become the front view in converting to a 3D part...The selected sketch entities become the top view in converting to a 3D part

Equation-driven Curves

You can now create parametric (in addition to explicit) equation-driven curves in both 2D and 3D sketches

DXF 3D Files

The DXF 3D translator extracts ACIS information from a DXF file, if that information exists in the file, and imports it into a SolidWorks part...It is not a 2D to 3D converter...The DXF 3D translator supports DXF 3D files from AutoCAD version R14 and above

Approach to Modeling

SolidWorks, you design in a 3D environment, and you create 2D drawings based on the 3D model...3D solid parts and assemblies, from which you generate 2D drawings...visualize 3D models into 2D drawings

Adding Structural Members

Using linear or curved sketch entities, you can create multiple 2D sketches with planes, create a 3D sketch, or combine 2D and 3D

3D Sketch

begin the 3D sketch manually, if the fittings are already in the assembly...You can add dimensions and most types of relations in a 3D sketch, using the same methods as you use in a 2D sketch...Search for 3D Sketching in the SolidWorks Online Help or see the 3D Sketching tutorial for more information about working in 3D sketches

Extracting Sketches

Click Front on the 2D to 3D toolbar, or click Tools, Sketch Tools, 2D to 3D, Front...Click the corresponding icon on the 2D to 3D toolbar or on the Tools, Sketch Tools, 2D to 3D menu...Click Auxiliary on the 2D to 3D toolbar, or click Tools, Sketch Tools, 2D to 3D, Auxiliary

Tangent to Face Relations with Splines

Add Tangent Face or Equal Curvature relations between adjacent faces and 2D or 3D splines. Select ...

Line Properties PropertyManager - 3D

... PropertyManager - 3D...Controls the following properties of a sketched 3D Line...3D Line Properties ...

Line Properties PropertyManager - 2D

... PropertyManager - 2D...Controls the following properties of a sketched 2D Line...2D Insert Line ...

Relations with Splines

... to Face Adjacent faces and 2D or 3D splines...Creating 2D Splines...Creating 3D Splines 3D Spline

STEP Export Options

3D curves...All 3D curves (composite curves, 3D wires, imported curves, and so on) are also...Exports all 2D and 3D sketches in the document in addition to all the items in 3D curves

Using 3D Sketching Capabilities

When sketching in 3D, you can snap to the major directions, X, Y, or Z, and constraints are applied Along X, Along Y, and Along Z, respectively...When sketching in the 2D mode on a 3D plane, entities that are not on the active sketch plane are muted...In a 3D sketch, right-click in the graphics area and select Show Sketcher Triad

Import Options

Imports data as 2D and 3D sketch data...2D curves, 3D curves, and 3D sketches import as 3D sketches...2D and 3D curves import as curves