Embedded Files
Creating a Sketch- The first thing you will want to do when designing a 3d object is to create a sketch. You do this by clicking the sketch button in the top left corner and selecting the plane (top, front, or right). For this example, I will be using the top plane.
Once you have a sketch plane, you can create a 2d drawing onto the sketch plane. I will be going through the basic tools you need to make the 2d image.
Line- Click "Line" in your toolbar. Then click anywhere on your sketch plane and then click another spot, this will create a line between the two points. Once you have completed a line, the option for another line will show up. If you want to make another line, click again where you want the line to be. If not, click the line button in the toolbar again or click with two fingers and choose "escape line."
Rectangle-This tool is used to make rectangles and squares. After clicking on the rectangle icon, click the two points where you want your two corners to be.
Center Point Circle- This tool is used to make circles. After clicking the center point circle button, click where you want the center of the circle to be. Then, click again and the distance between the two points will be the radius of the circle.
Three Point Arc-This tool is used to make all types of arcs. After clicking the three point arc button, click where you want one of the legs to be. Then, click where you want the second leg to be. After that, click a third time where you want the arc to land.
Inscribed Polygon- This tool is used to make any polygon you want. After clicking the inscribed polygon button, click where you want to start. Then click again to set the cricumfrence. After that, drag your mouse to set the number of sides of the polygon. You can always escape the inscribed polygon tool and set the number of sides you want by typing it in.
Spline-The spline tool is used to create unique curves with multiple points along it. After clicking the spline tool, click where you want the curve to start. Then, click as many times as you need to make your curve. To end the curve, doubleclick, connect the curve to where you started, or press the escape button on your computer (not the escape spline button on the toolbar).
Point-Use this tool to make a point. Simply click anywhere on the sketch plane after clicking the point button.
Text-This tool is used to make any sized text on your sketch plane. After clicking on the text tool, click twice to establish the size of your text. Then, a box will appear where you can type anything you want.
Mirror-This tool is used to reflect a sketch activity over a specified line. First, select the mirror tool and select a line of reflection (you might have to draw the line using the line tool). Then, select the sketch entities you would like to mirror.
Linear Pattern-This tool is used to repeat sketch entities to make a pattern. After clicking the linear pattern button, select the entities you would like to repeat. You can change the distance between the entities and which direction they go by typing it in the grey box or using the arrows. You can also change how many times it repeats itself by typing it in the other grey box.
Using the 'dimension' tool
The dimension tool is very useful, it is used to see and adjust the size or length of lines, circles, etc. in your sketch. First you should know what unit of measurement you use. To use the dimension tool, click on it (it is shown in the picture above) then click on line of the thing you want to measure, next move your cursor outward or inward from the line you clicked and click again to set it, now you can see and edit the measurement of whatever you choose.
Report abuse