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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

3D Annotations

3D annotations are organized according to the model's orthographic views, such as front, bottom, isometric, etc...3D annotations in parts are not dynamically linked to their corresponding drawings...If you change a 3D annotation in a part, the drawing is not