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

Creating 3D Splines

Create splines in 3D sketches or use 3D sketch planes...2D sketch on a 3D sketch plane...With some exceptions, such as the Z coordinate , editing 3D splines is similar to editing 2D splines

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 3D Sketching Tools

In the sketch below, the 3D sketch in red (created on one of the edges of the chamfer) is a model edge that is not parallel to the 2D sketch plane...The 2D sketch in red is a projection of the 3D sketch...To use a 2D sketch mode in a 3D sketch

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

Sketch Relations in 3D Sketches

Many relations available in 2D sketches are available in 3D sketches...Relations between 3D sketch entities created on one sketch plane, and 3D entities created on other sketch planes...In a 3D sketch, you can sketch entities along global , global , or global axis

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

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

Space Handle

In 3D sketching, a graphical space handle helps maintain your orientation while you sketch on several planes...When sketching on a 3D plane , no graphical assistant is displayed since you are creating a 3D sketch in 2D space...Coordinate System - 3D Sketching

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