3-Dimensional Sketching

UNIT 3 3-DIMENSIONAL SKETCHING

Structure

3.1 Introduction
Objectives

3.2 Creation of an Oven Rack Frame using a 3-D Sketch

3.3 Complete the Feature using Sweep
3.4 Supports Extrusion
3.5 Creating Pattern of Extrude Feature
3.6 Mirror to Complete
3.7 Summary

3.1 INTRODUCTION
Using SolidWorks, you can create 3 dimensional sketches. You can use a 3D sketch in a
variety of ways such as a sweep path, as a guide curve for a sweep or loft, as a centerline
for a loft, or as one of the key entities in a piping system. A useful application of 3D
sketching is designing piping systems.
Objectives
After doing this exercise, you should be able to :
• sketch relative to coordinate systems,
• dimension in 3D space, and
• mirror features.

Figure 3.1

3.2 CREATION OF AN OVEN RACK FRAME USING

A 3D SKETCH
Here, you make the outer frame of a wire oven rack by sweeping a circle along a 3D
sketch. Since oven rack body is symmetrical, therefore you make half of this oven rack
and then, you use the Mirror All function to finish the model.
Create the 3D sketch of the outer frame by following steps below :

(a) Click New and open a new part.

(b) Click 3D Sketch on the Sketch toolbar.

(c) Click Line and sketch a line about 130 mm long on the XY-plane from
the origin along the X-axis.
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CAD Laboratory Sketch the line to an approximate length, then dimension to the exact length
later.

(d) Click Select on the Standard toolbar, and click the start point of the
line.
(e) If you want start point exactly on the origin then in the Property Manager,
make sure that the start point is exactly at the origin (0, 0, 0 as shown under
Parameters), is Coincident with the origin (as shown in Existing
Relations) and is Fully Defined (as shown in Information ).
(f) If the start point is not at the origin, do the following:
• Under Parameters, set X-Coordinate, Y-Coordinate, and
Z-Coordinate to 0.

• Click Fix in Add Relations.

Now the point is Fully Defined, as shown in Information .

(g) Click Line and continue sketching the other lines from the endpoint
of the previous line. Each time you begin a new line, the origin for the
current coordinate system is displayed at the beginning of the new line to
help orient you.
(i) Sketch down the Y-axis for 12 mm.
(ii) Sketch along the X-axis for 12 mm.

(iii) Press Tab to change the sketch plane to the YZ-plane.

(iv) Sketch along the Z-axis for 220 mm.
(v) Press Tab twice to change the sketch plane back to the
XY-plane.
(vi) Sketch along the X-axis for 12 mm.
(vii) Sketch up the Y-axis for 12 mm.
(viii) Sketch along the X-axis for 130 mm.

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 (h) Dimension each of the lines as shown. 3-Dimensional Sketching

(i) Click Sketch Fillet on the Sketch toolbar, and fillet each intersection
with a 4 mm fillet.
To fillet the intersections, select the point where two lines meet.
(j) Click 3D Sketch to close the sketch.
(k) Save the part as rack.sldprt.

3.3 COMPLETE THE FEATURE USING SWEEP

Sweeping is essentially an extrusion operation enumerated in Unit 1. To carry out
extrusion (Sweeps Operation) ,we need a profile and a path to sweep along. Here we will
complete base feature by taking circles as a profile and 3D sketch as path. To complete
the base feature, sweep a circle along the 3D sketch path.
(a) Select the Right plane in the FeatureManager design tree, then click Sketch
to open a sketch on that plane.
(b) Sketch a 4 mm diameter circle at the origin.

(c) Click Exit Sketch .

(d) Click Swept Boss/Base on the Features toolbar.

(e) In the PropertyManager, under Profile and Path:

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CAD Laboratory

• Select the circle (Sketch1) for Profile .

• Select the 3D sketch (3DSketch1) for Path .

Select the FeatureManager design tree tab to select

3DSketch1.

(f) Click OK .

It can be seen that the circle is swept along the 3-D sketch part, thus creating
the desired model.

3.4 SUPPORTS EXTRUSION

For the internal supports, you make a single support and then pattern this feature. Make a
linear pattern of extrusions that extend from one side of the frame to the other.
(a) Select the Front plane in the FeatureManager design tree.

(b) Click Extruded Boss/Base on the Features toolbar.

(c) Click Standard Views and select Normal To .

(d) Sketch a circle on what appears to be the face of the frame. (The Front
plane is actually in the center of the frame wire.)
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 (e) Dimension the center of the circle to be 11 mm from the origin. 3-Dimensional Sketching

(f) Dimension the diameter of the circle to 4mm.

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(g) Click Exit Sketch.

(h) Click Standard Views and select Trimetric .

(i) In the PropertyManager, under Direction 1:

• If required, click Reverse Direction so the

arrow in the graphics area points in the correct direction to meet
the other side.
• Select Up to Surface in End condition.
• Select the opposite side of the frame for Face/Plane.
• Select Merge result if it is not already selected. Merge result
controls whether or not you create separate solid bodies.
(j) Click OK.

3.5 CREATING PATTERN OF EXTRUDE FEATURE

Pattern essentially signifies the repetition of an entity (object/part) multiple times. Follow
steps as under to create the pattern.
(a) Click View, Temporary Axes to turn on the display of all temporary axes.
A reference is required around that a pattern will be created so the axes must
be visible to select them to create a pattern
(b) Select Extrude1 in the FeatureManager design tree.

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CAD Laboratory

(c) Click Linear Pattern on the Features toolbar.

Extrude1 appears in Features to Pattern in the PropertyManager.
(d) Click the temporary axis on the face of the frame where you sketched the
circle.
In the graphics area, a preview of the pattern appears, and an arrow
indicating the direction of the pattern appears on the frame at the right end
of the axis. In the Property Manager, Axis <1> appears in Pattern
Direction.
(e) Under Direction 1, do the following :

• Click Reverse direction if necessary. Check

the preview for the direction of the pattern.
• Set Spacing to 24.
• Set Number of Instances to 5.
(f) Click OK.

The extrusion pattern is completed. It will be as above.

3.6 MIRROR TO COMPLETE

Use the Mirror tool to complete the wire rack.
(a) Click Insert, Pattern/Mirror, Mirror.
(b) Rotate the half-rack and click on the end face of the frame.

(c) Face <1> appears in Mirror Face/Plane in the

PropertyManager.
(d) Click Bodies to Mirror, then click anywhere on the rack.
(e) Click OK.

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 3-Dimensional Sketching

(f) Click Standard Views and select Isometric .

The rack is completed.

(g) Save the part.

3.7 SUMMARY
In this unit, you have learnt to create 3-D sketch using 3-D sketch and setting x, y, z
parameters to 0 in the beginning and then changing them as per the drawing. Method to
create a fillet in 3-D sketch has been described. Once the 3-D sketch is created use of
sweep is described along with the extrude feature.
In the end, method to create linear pattern is discussed and using mirror the mirror
function the drawing has been completed. So after learning basics in Units 1 and 2, this
unit has exposed learners to some advanced features.

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