Using part of sketches

[antran7]

Most of the time, I like to make one sketch that may be used to define different features like lofts or sweeps.

But I can't just select some of the sketch entities to make my feature. It's either all or nothing. So I end up having to create a new sketch, and select just the entities I need to use, and "convert" them into the new sketch. This I use this secondary sketch for my feature.

This seems pretty wasteful and inefficient. Is there another way?

Granted, I'm coming from Pro/E, so I think like a Pro/E geek. What's the Solidworks geek thought process?

 

[ctopher]

There is always more than one way to do something in SolidWorks. Read the Help file, go to training, do the tutorials.
My SW geek thought process is....SolidWorks.
I have used other CAD's, but I throw those thought out when using SW.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP3.1 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site (updated 06-21-05)
FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[SBaugh]

Try saving your Sketch to a Library feature. Also you can use Edit\Copy and then pick a Plane and Edit\Paste

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[antran7]

thanks for your help.

 

[TheTick]

Typically, I end up working the way you describe: master sketch, use convert entities to extract parts of the master sketch as I go along.

Having to create secondary sketches seems cumbersome at first if you are accustomed to not having to do so. Eventually, it becomes reflex.

 

[J-C]

Does Contour select work with sweeps and lofts? I know it does for Extrudes and Revolves which is what you use when you want to use one sketch for multiple features. It's at the button of the extrude/revolve dialogue. Pretty cool select tool that allows you to select Regions and Profiles within a sketch.

2006 added some selection options to the Loft feature that allow you to select sketch entities in the sketch. Sort of a contour select tool.

There is also some selection options on the right click menu, Chain, Loop, Tangent and Contour select. Chain, Loop, and Tangent you have to right click on model edges. Contour sometimes is not on the default menu, you may have to click the arrows >> at the bottom to see it.

And as Tick said, you can get quite accustom to the Convert Entities tool, assign it to a hotkey and it's fairly quick. I have "I" set to "insert sketch" and "E" for "convert entties". So I select a face or plane, press "I" for a new sketch, then control select the sketch entites I want and press "E".

Jason

 

[J-C]

Also forgot "Smart Selection" for selecting edges in the loft command. Right click an edge to use it

Jason

 

[antran7]

thanks for the tips. i'll give that a shot today!

 

[antran7]

the "selected contours" worked great for just selecting part of a sketch for a extrusion. Although it sucked the sketch up into the extrusion feature, so when I select other 'contours' in the sketch for other features, it may not be intuitive to find.

Do you think I should just make new sketch and 'convert' the sketch entities i need to use for each feature? The only problem is I don't explicitly have a sketch plane in my part, since I made that sketch in the assembly and referenced my skeleton part.

Just trying to learn proper SolidWorks etiquette. Thanks again.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

My preference:-

1) Create a new part (without geometry) outside of the assy.
2) Insert & mate it into the assy using the main reference planes.
3) Enter the Edit Part mode & Convert entities into a new sketch.


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