Basic 2D Sketching

SolidWorks
Create a part document.
Set units, precision, drafting
standard, other.

Select a Sketch Plane:

Front, Top, Right, created, face,
etc.

SolidWorks
Select a 2D Sketch tool vs. a
3D Sketch tool.

Create a sketch (Corner

Rectangle). Understand the
location of the origin. WHY!!

SolidWorks
The origin represents
the intersection of the
Front, Top and Right
Planes.

origin

SolidWorks
Insert all needed geometric
relations and dimensions
relative to the origin. Use the
origin in your sketch.
The sketch should be fully
defined (displayed in black).
WHY?

Example 1 - Use the Origin in your

Sketch
Create a 2D Sketch of a circle.
In this example, the origin is
not part of the original 2D
Sketch of the circle.
Insert a vertical geometric
relation to the origin and two
dimensions relative to the
origin to fully define the sketch.
The sketch should be fully
defined (displayed in black).
WHY?

Example 2 - Use the Origin in your

Sketch
Create a 2D Sketch of a circle.
In this example, the center of
the circle is at the origin. A
coincident geometric relations
is added by SolidWorks.
Only a single dimension is
needed to fully defined the
sketch.
The sketch should be fully
defined (displayed in black).
WHY?

General 2D Sketch tools in SolidWorks

Line
Centerline
Circle
Rectangle
Corner
Center
3 Point
3 Point Center
Parallelogram
Slot
Straight
Centerpoint
3 Point Arc
Centerpoint Arc

General 2D Sketch tools in SolidWorks

(Cont:)

Centerpoint Arc
Tangent Arc
3 Point Arc
Spline
Equation Driven
Curve
Fit Spline
Ellipse
Partial Ellipse
Parabola
Sketch Fillet
Sketch Chamfer

General 2D Sketch tools in SolidWorks

(Cont:)

Text
Trim Entities
Convert Entities
Offset Entities
Point
Plane
Mirror Entities
Linear Sketch
Pattern
Move Entities
Display/Delete
Relations
And more

General 2D Sketch tools in SolidWorks Help

Use Help in the

Tool
PropertyManager
Use SolidWorks
General Help from
the main Tool bar.
Use the SolidWorks
Tutorials.

What Sketch Plane do you start on for

your 2D Sketch?
Why do you
start on a
certain Sketch
Plane:
Example
Front
Top
Right
*The plane or face you select for the Base sketch determines
the orientation of the part.

2D Sketch States
Sketches are generally defined
in one of the following states.
Color indicates the state of
individual sketch entities:
Under Defined. There is inadequate
definition of the sketch, (Blue). The
FeatureManager displays a minus (-)
symbol before the Sketch name.

Note: When you create freeform shapes, generally through splines, these
shapes can be very difficult to fully defined.

Origin

2D Sketch States (Cont:)

Sketches are generally
defined in one of the
following states. Color
indicates the state of
individual sketch entities:

Origin

Fully Defined. Has complete

information, (Black). The
FeatureManager displays no
symbol before the Sketch
name.
Only two dimensions with geometric relations. This will effect your drawing. HOW?

2D Sketch States (Cont:)

Sketches are generally
defined in one of the
following states. Color
indicates the state of
individual sketch entities:
Over Defined. Has duplicate
dimensions, (Red/Yellow). The
FeatureManager displays a (+)
symbol before the Sketch name.
The Whats Wrong dialog box is
displayed.

Origin