Using Tools for Sketching

Grid

You can click Grid to display a grid in a session. The grid size can be decided as per the requirement, there is no definite rule.

The grid spacing and graduations are defined using the Tools > Options > Mechanical > Sketcher > Grid area. For more information, see Sketcher (Customizing).

Snap to Point

You can click Snap to Point to make your sketch begin or end on the points of the grid. As you are sketching the points are snapped to the intersection points of the grid.

Note that this option is also available via Tools > Options > Mechanical > Sketcher > Sketcher tab. For more information, see Sketcher (Customizing).

In the following example, the black spline was created with Snap to Point on. 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 on.
When SmartPick is active, points may not snap at the intersection points of the grid. Care that they will necessarily snap on an horizontal or a vertical grid subdivision.

Construction/Standard Elements

You can create two types of elements: standard elements and construction elements.

If standard elements represent the most commonly created elements, on some occasions, you will have to create a geometry just to facilitate your design. Construction elements aim at helping you in sketching the required profile.

Click Construction/Standard Element in the Sketch tools toolbar so that the elements you are now going to create be either standard or construction element. As construction elements are not taken into account when creating features, 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.

Important: The construction elements are automatically removed when they are not used anymore.

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 instance, are represented by crosses. The points and the line are visible outside the Sketcher workbench.
Points generated by Break are created in construction mode, even if Standard/Construction is set to Standard.

Geometric Constraints

When selected, Geometric Constraint enforces the integrity of the geometry between one or more elements.

The constraints created are permanent.

Dimensional Constraints

When selected, Dimensional Constraint enforces the integrity of the dimensions of one or more profile type elements provided you use the value boxes in the Sketch tools toolbar for creating this profile.

To know more about sketcher constraints, see Setting Constraints, and Infrastructure user's guide (Customization Settings).

Value Boxes

The values of the elements you sketch appear in the Sketch tools toolbar as you move the pointer over the graphics area. In other words, as you are moving the pointer, the different boxes, for example horizontal (H) and vertical (V) boxes for creating the centre of a circle, display the coordinates corresponding to the pointer position.

You can:

Select the desired box of the Sketch tools toolbar and type in the required values.

Note: You can use the Tab key to select the desired box.
Increment or decrement the value in a box using the Up Arrow or Down Arrow key according to the grid options.
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 graphics area without changing the value in the box.

Note: If you are a DS Passport customer, you can read the QA00000007079 article from the Knowledge Base for more information about the behavior of the value entered in the box for different parameters.