Creating Projected Curves

You can preselect items before you click Project Curve Tool_Project_Curve_Curves.gif. If you preselect items, SOLIDWORKS attempts to select the appropriate type of projection.
  • If you preselect two sketches, the Sketch on sketch option is activated with the two sketches shown under Sketch to Project PM_sketch_to_project.gif.
  • If you preselect a sketch and one or more faces, the Sketch on faces option is activated with the selected items shown in the correct boxes.
  • If you preselect one or more faces, the Sketch on faces option is activated.

You can right-click in the graphics area and select a projection type from the shortcut menu. When you have selected enough entities to create a projected curve, the OK pointer_mouse_OK.png pointer appears. Right-click to create the projected curve.

To project a curve:

  1. Click Project Curve Tool_Project_Curve_Curves.gif on the Curves toolbar, or Insert > Curve > Projected.
  2. In the PropertyManager, under Selections, set Projection type to one of the following:
    • Sketch on faces
      Use this selection to project a sketched curve onto a model face.
      • Under Sketch to Project PM_sketch_to_project.gif, select the curve in the graphics area or from the flyout FeatureManager design tree.
      • Under Projection Faces PM_face.gif, select the cylindrical face on the model where you want to project the sketch.
      • Select the Reverse projection check box, or click the handle in the graphics area, if necessary.
        PRJCRV1.gif PRJCRV2.gif PRJCRV3.gif
        Original sketch to project onto a face Projected curve Projected curve used as a sweep path
    • Sketch on sketch
      Use this selection to create a curve that represents the intersection of sketches from two intersecting planes.
      • Create a sketch on each of two intersecting planes, closing each sketch when you are done.
      • Align the sketch profiles such that when they are projected normal to their sketch plane; the implied surfaces will intersect, creating the desired result.
      • Under Sketch to Project PM_sketch_to_project.gif, select both sketches in the flyout FeatureManager design tree or the graphics area.
        PCRV_SK1.gif PCRV_SK2.gif PCRV_SK3.gif
        The two sketches (gray) project onto each other to form the 3D curve (green). The curve is used as a path for a sweep. The swept geometry is used to create this power adapter.
    A preview of the projected curve appears.
  3. Click PM_OK.gif.