3D Sketching

Contents

• 3D Sketching Tools
  

• Beginning a 3D Sketch
  

  You can create 3D sketch entities on a working plane, or at any arbitrary point in 3D space.

• Differences Between 2D and 3D Sketching
  

• 2D Sketching in 3D
  

• 3D Sketching Capabilities
  

• Space Handles
  

  In 3D sketching, a graphical space handle helps maintain your orientation while you sketch on several planes. The space handle appears when the first point of a sketch entity is defined on a selected plane. Using the space handle, you can select the axis along which you want to sketch.

• Plane Properties PropertyManager
  

  After you add a plane in a 3D sketch you can add or modify information about the plane.

• Creating Lines in 3D Sketches
  

  You can create lines in 3D sketches.

• Creating Sketch Points in 3D Sketches
  

  You can insert points into 3D sketches.

• Creating Virtual Sharps
  

  A virtual sharp creates a sketch point at the virtual intersection point of two sketch entities. Dimensions and relations to the virtual intersection point are retained even if the actual intersection no longer exists, such as when a corner is removed by a fillet or chamfer.

• 3D Splines
  

  Create splines in 3D sketches or use 3D sketch planes.

• Coordinate Systems in 3D Sketches
  

  When creating a 3D sketch, by default, you sketch relative to the default coordinate system in the model. To switch to one of the other two default planes, click the desired sketch tool, and press the Tab key. The origin of the current sketch plane is displayed.

• Sketch Relations in 3D Sketches
  

  Many relations available in 2D sketches are available in 3D sketches.

• Dimensions in 3D Sketches
  

• Dimensioning 3D Sketches on Planes
  

  Various dimension types are available in 3D sketches on planes: absolute, horizontal, and vertical. Move the pointer around to generate each dimension type.

• 3D Sketch Dimension Types
  

  Various dimension types are available in 3D sketches: absolute, along X, along Y, and along Z.

• Line Snap
  

  While you create a line in a 3D sketch, you can snap the line to geometry that already exists in the part, such as model surfaces or vertices, and sketch points.