3D Sketching

[PGJ]

I appreciate that it is not possible to produce a sketch in 3D but it explains what I am trying to do. I am evaluating the Alias StudioTools software for surface and styling work and they use a getting started simple example of modeling a common design steel tubular stackable chair using the same principle of creating a path (sweep) etc. When I tried to do it in Solidworks which is much easier, so I thought, I ran into the problem which makes me think I am missing the obvious.
I produce a path in X & Y (sketch) horizontal RT to Left, then vert, then Left to RT, then vert with suitable radii in the corners and the length of each section is 400mm. I then want to continue the path in Z to give me the width of the chair and then produce the same profile on the second side in the opposite direction to complete the chair. The 20mm circle (tube dia) is positioned at the start of the path. The problem is when I want to introduce a sketch in direction of Z

 

[TheTick]

Are you using 3D sketch? ("Insert --> #D Sketch")

When in a 3D sketch, hit the Tab key to toggle between XY, YZ, and ZX planes.

 

[Theophilus]

Use a 3D sketch and you can add a radius between your line segments. You can also use a spline for a more organic look, and can even create more complicated sketch segments in 2D, and then convert the entities into your 3D sketch to create a single sweep path for your tubing.

Check 3D sketch in the help files.


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[ctopher]

...the help menu explains a lot.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 2005 SP0.1

 

[PGJ]

Thank you all for the suggestions, I knew I was missing the obvious. Thanks