About Tools for Sketching

3D Grid Parameters

3D Grid Parameters lets you use the parameters of the current working support grid (3D grid) in the Generative Shape Design app to define another grid in the Sketcher app.

The 3D Grid Parameters command is available only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

• The 3D grid should be parallel to the current sketch plane.
• The grid of the current work on support should be a Cartesian grid.

Once you activate the 3D Grid Parameters command:

• The current 3D grid is displayed instead of the sketcher grid.
• All the visualization properties associated with the 3D grid are maintained. For example, if the 3D grid is furtive, this furtiveness is also available in the Sketcherapp. In this case, you may have to adjust the visualization parameters to view it.
• Existing sketcher grid parameters are ignored.
• The grid parameters under Me > Preferences > App Preferences > 3D Modeling > 3D Modeling Core →Sketcher > Grid tab remain unchanged.
• The current 3D grid parameters (primary spacing and graduations values) are used for snapping, if Snap to point is previously activated.
• Origin of the sketch remains unchanged if the position of the projection of the center of the 3D grid is not merged with the origin point of the sketch.
• You can use Set As Current/Set As Not Current from the context menu on the working support features to define the default current support. Then, this support will be automatically selected when entering a command that requires a working support.

Grid

Located in the View section of the action bar, the Grid command displays a grid in a session. The grid size can be decided as per the requirement, there is no definite rule. The command is activated by default.

The grid spacing and graduations are defined in the Grid area. To define the grid, select Me > Preferences > App Preferences > 3D Modeling > 3D Modeling Core > Sketcher > Grid tab . For more information, see Sketcher.

Snap to Point

The Snap to Point command lets you begin or end the sketch on the points of the grid. As you are sketching, the points are snapped to the intersection points of the grid.

In the following example, the black spline was created with Snap to Point on. All the points are on the grid. Conversely, the highlighted spline was created with Snap to Point deactivated.

Important: When you zoom in, the option remains active both on primary and secondary grids, even though the secondary grids are not visualized any more. The SmartPick capability works even if this option is selected. When SmartPick is active, the points may not snap at the intersection points of the grid. Ensure that they will necessarily snap on the horizontal or vertical grid subdivision.

Lock Rotation

The Lock Rotation command restricts the rotation of the sketch view using mouse, in all the directions that are not normal to the view point.

By default, this command is deactivated.

Construction/Standard Elements

In Sketcher, you can create two types of elements, either standard elements or construction elements.

Standard elements represent the most commonly created elements. But on some occasions, you require to create a geometry to facilitate your design. The construction elements help you in sketching the required profile.

The Construction/Standard Element command lets you decide if an element should be a standard element or a construction elements. As construction elements are not taken into account when creating features, by default, they do not appear outside the Sketcher.

Here is an example of the use of both types of elements. The hexagon was sketched using three construction circles:

This type of sketch simplifies the creation and the ways in which it is constrained. Setting a radius constraint on the second circle is enough to constrain the whole hexagon.

If a sketch containing construction elements is selected as an input for feature creation,

• Although the construction elements are made visible outside Sketcher, they are not considered for creation of sketch based features such as pads and pockets.
• If the selection contains a combination of standard and construction elements, then only standard elements are considered for feature creation.
• If the selection of construction elements does not lead to any standard elements in the sketch, then the construction elements (only vertices and edges) can be used to create features.
• The selected construction elements can be forced to be used for feature creation, with the help of user selection filters, such as the point filter, curve filter, and geometrical selection filter.

Standard or Construction Points

Points are represented either by crosses or just by points, depending on the chosen creation mode.

• In standard mode, which is the default mode, points created on a line, for example, are represented by crosses. The points and the line are visible outside the Sketcher app.
• Points generated by the Break command are created in construction mode, even if Standard/Construction is set to Standard.

Geometric Constraints

The Geometrical Constraints command lets you enforce the integrity of the geometry between one or more elements.

The constraints created are permanent.

Dimensional Constraints

The Dimensional Constraint command lets you enforce the integrity of the dimensions of one or more profile type elements.

To know more about sketcher constraints, see Setting Constraints.

Value Boxes

The values of the elements you sketch appear in Tools Palette as you move the pointer over the work area. As you move the pointer, the different boxes, for example horizontal (H) and vertical (V) boxes for creating the center of a circle, display the coordinates corresponding to the pointer position.

You can:

• Select the desired box of Tools Palette and type the required values.
  Note: You can use the Tab key to select the desired box.
• Increase or decrease the value in a box using the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key according to the grid preferences.
• Press Enter to validate your values.

Important: When you select another box, the value in the previously selected box is locked. By default, typing any number fills the first box. The value entered in the box during edition is locked till the focus is on the box. This allows you to move the pointer over the work area without changing the value in the box.