SolidWorks® Surfacing and Complex Shape Modeling Bible

Chapter 4. Sketching in 3D

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Getting started in a 3D sketch

• Editing and visualization techniques

• Working within the limitations of 3D sketches

• Using special 3D sketch tools

• Tutorials

Most of the sketching you do in SolidWorks is in a 2D sketch on a plane or planar face. At times, 3D sketches are useful and even indispensible, but they are generally more difficult to control and temperamental at times. SolidWorks allows you to do all of your sketching in 3D sketches, but in most situations, not many users work this way because of the quirks and limitations of 3D sketches.

This chapter offers only a quick refresher on the basic concepts involved in working with 3D sketches, and deals in depth only with those aspects of 3D sketches that are specific to the creation of surfaces and complex shapes. For a more complete general reference on 3D sketching, please refer to the Weldments chapter, Chapter 31, and other locations throughout the SolidWorks 2007 Bible as identified in its index.

Many users assume that you would use 3D sketches primarily for complex freehand splines, but this is usually not the case. Freehand 3D splines are very difficult to work with, primarily because of the difficulties with visualization. 3D curves offer no way to judge depth without either rotating the model or seeing it from multiple points of view simultaneously. I use 3D sketches primarily for converted 3D edges, Intersection Curves, Face Curves, Spline on Surface, and less frequently for 3D sketch ...