Lesson 4

Creating parts with sketches

Creating parts with sketches

Purpose
This lesson introduces the methods of creating a sketch.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:
• Identify design intent and a modeling strategy.
• Create a sketch.
• Create sketch curves.
• Apply dimensional constraints to sketches.
• Apply geometric constraints to sketches.
• Identify constraints.
• Convert sketch curves and constraints to reference status.
Sketch overview

A Sketch is a named set of 2D curves and points located on a specified plane

or path.
You can apply rules, in the form of geometric and dimensional constraints, to
establish the criteria your design needs.
Features created from a sketch are associated with it; if the sketch changes so do
the features.
You can use sketches to create:
• The profile or typical sections of your design.

• Detailed part features by sweeping, extruding, or revolving a sketch into a

solid or a sheet body.

• Large-scale 2D concept layouts with hundreds, or even thousands, of sketch

curves.

• Construction geometry, such as a path of motion, or a clearance arc, that is

not meant to define a part feature.
Sketch overview

In a sketch, you can create as many, or as few constraints as your design

requires. For example you might create 2D layout sketches for products where
you focus on:
• Product structure
• Component layout
• Basic component shape

Or you might create construction geometry including:

• Area/volume restrictions in a part
• Range/arc of free motion
• Part labels or logos
• Layout of grille holes

Sketches like these typically require few, if any, constraints.

Establishing design intent and a modeling strategy

Before creating a parametric model, you should first establish the design intent of
the part.
There are two items to consider when establishing design intent:
• Design considerations
o What are the functional requirements of the part?
o What are the relationships between features on the part?

• Potential areas for change

o What portions of the model are subject to change? o
What is the scope of the changes?
o Will the model be copied and modified for other
projects?
Ways to use sketches

There are many ways that you can use sketches.

• You can revolve a sketch .

• You can extrude a sketch

.
• You can create swept features
.

• You can use multiple sketches as generator profiles for sheet bodies.

• You can use a combination of sketch types in variational sweep

.
Sketches and Layers

• You can Hide and Show sketches from the Part Navigator. You do not
need to put each sketch on a different layer to control its visibility.

• Layers can also be used as an organization tool for sketches.

• While working in an external sketch, all the objects you create reside on
the same layer.
Internal sketches reside with the parent feature unless you manually
move the sketch to another layer.

• When you add curves to a sketch directly in an application, they are created
on the same layer as the sketch.

• When you open a sketch in the Sketch task environment, the layer that the
sketch resides on becomes the work layer.

• When you exit the Sketch task environment, the layer settings depend
on whether you selected the Maintain Layer Status check box in the File
tab→Preferences group→All Preferences→Sketch→Session Settings
tab.
o If you select the check box, the sketch layer and work layer are returned
to the status they had before you activated the sketch.

o If you clear the check box, the sketch layer continues to be the work
layer.
General process for using sketches

When you want to use sketches in your model, follow this general process:
• Establish your design intent.
• Check and set the sketch preferences.
• Create the sketch and the sketch geometry.
• Constrain the sketch according to your design intent.
Direct Sketch and the Sketch task environment

The Direct Sketch group and the Sketch task environment offer two modes you
can use to create and edit sketches.
Direct Sketch
• Sketch commands are organized in a Direct Sketch group on the Home tab.

Use the Direct Sketch group when you want to:

• Create or edit a sketch in the Modeling, Shape Studio, or Sheet Metal
applications.

• See the effect of sketch changes on the model in real-time.

Direct Sketch and the Sketch task environment

Sketch Task Environment

• The commands in the Sketch Task Environment are organized into multiple
groups on the Home tab.

Use the Sketch task environment when you want to:

• Edit an internal sketch.

• Experiment with sketch changes, but retain the option to discard all the
changes.

• Create a sketch in other applications.

Direct sketching

A Direct Sketch group is available in Modeling on the Home tab. Use the
commands in this group to create a sketch on a plane without entering the Sketch
task environment.
You can define the first point on the following:
• Screen position
• Point
• Curve
• Face
• Plane
• Edge
• Specified Plane
• Specified Datum CSYS
 Sketch Task Environment

The Sketch Task Environment command lets you create or edit a sketch in NX
while allowing full control over the creation and edit process.
Working in the Sketch Task Environment allows the following:
• The ability to control the sketch creation options during sketch creation.

• Access to all the sketch tools.

• The option to work in 2D or 3D space. (The default is orient to 2D)

• The ability to control the update behavior of the model.

Create Sketch overview

Use the Sketch command when you need to:

• Define the sketch Orientation and Origin, in a manner that is not available
using the quick pick method.

• Create a sketch On Path or associated to the edge of a solid.

Where do I find it?

Command Sketch
Finder
Sketch in Task Environment
Sketch On Plane

Create a Sketch On Plane when you want to associate the sketch feature to a
planar object such as a datum plane or a face.

1. Sketch on the plane of a Datum CSYS

2. Sketch on a face of the extruded sketch.

Sketch reference direction

When you choose a reference direction, vertical or horizontal, you determine

either the positive X or Y direction for your sketch.
Intermediate Datum CSYS

NX can automatically create an Intermediate Datum CSYS when you create or

reattach a sketch. By default, the Intermediate Datum CSYS is internal to the
sketch.
Exit Sketch

Use the Exit Sketch command to exit the Sketch task environment without doing
the following:
• Saving the modified sketch.

• Updating the model.

The Exit Sketch command restores the part to the state it was prior to entering
the Sketch task environment while avoiding the unnecessary step of updating
all features downstream of the sketch.
Activities: Creating sketches

In the Creating parts with sketches section, do the activities:

• Create a sketch profile directly in the Modeling application

• Sketch in Task Environment

• Create a sketch on a persistent Datum CSYS
Sketch curves

Sketching commands are available in both the Direct Sketch ribbon group and
the Sketch Task Environment.
The following is a chart of the essential sketching commands. Not all available
commands are shown.
Profile Creates a series of connected lines
and/or arcs in string mode; that is
the end of the last curve becomes
the beginning of the next curve.
Line Creates lines with
constraint inferences.
Arc Creates and arc through three
points or by specifying its center
and end points.
Circle Creates a circle through three
points or by specifying its center
and diameter.
Rectangle Creates a rectangle using any of
three different methods.
Studio Spline Dynamically creates and edits
splines by dragging defining points or
poles, and assigning slope or
curvature constraints at defining
points.
Point Creates points.
Offset Curve Offsets a chain of curves, projected
curves, or curves/edges in the
sketch. Symmetric offset is also
available.
Sketch help lines

• A dotted help line indicates alignment with other objects.

• A dashed help line indicates an inferred constraint with other objects, such
as horizontal, vertical, perpendicular and tangent.

1. Dotted help line aligned with midpoint.

2. Dashed help line with vertical constraint.

Short List

When NX infers a constraint between an object on the short list and the curve
being created, the short list object highlights and you see a preview of the
constraint.
 Continuous Auto Dimensioning

Use the Continuous Auto Dimensioning command to automatically dimension

sketch curves after each operation.
You can set auto dimensioning rules from the following:
• Inferred Constraints and Dimensions

• File tab→Utilities→Customer Defaults→Sketch→Inferred Constraints

and Dimensions→Dimensions
 Inferred Constraints and Dimensions

Use the Inferred Constraints and Dimensions command to control which

constraints or dimensions are automatically inferred during curve construction.
You can set inferred constraints for geometric constraints, dimensional
constraints, and constraints recognized when using snap point options.
Inferred constraints behave like normally applied geometric constraints and
can be seen and deleted using the Show/Remove Constraints dialog or
when you right-click an object and choose Remove All Constraints.
You can temporarily disable all of the infer constraint settings during curve
construction by pressing and holding the Alt key on Windows or the Ctrl+Alt
keys on non-Windows platforms.
Inferred Constraints and Dimensions dialog box

Available constraints

Constraints recognized by Snap Point

Auto Dimensioning rules

The Snap Angle option

You can specify the snap angle on the Session Settings page of the Sketch
Preferences dialog box.
The Snap Angle option lets you specify the value of the default snap angle
tolerance for vertical, horizontal, parallel, and perpendicular lines.
 Profile

Use the Profile command to create a series of connected lines and/or arcs in
string mode.
In string mode, the end of the last curve becomes the beginning of the next curve.
For example, you can create this pipe vise profile in one series of mouse clicks:
 Sketch Point

Use the Sketch Point command to create points in a sketch.

If you create a point off of the sketch plane, NX projects the point onto the
sketch plane.
Activities: Sketching curves

In the Creating parts with sketches section, do the activities:

• Create a sketch profile

• Use Continuous Auto Dimensioning

Sketch curve functions

There are several options you can use to modify sketch curves:
Quick Trim Trims curves to the closest physical or virtual
intersection.
Quick Extend Extends curves to a physical or virtual intersection.
Make Corner Creates a corner by extending and/or trimming two
input curves to a common intersection.
Fillet Creates a fillet between two or three curves.
Chamfer Bevels a sharp corner between two sketch lines.
 Quick Trim

Use the Quick Trim command to trim a curve to the closest physical or virtual
intersection in either direction. You can:
• Preview the trim by passing the cursor over the curve.

• Select individual curves to trim.

• Hold the left mouse button and drag across multiple curves to trim them all
at the same time.
Trimming a curve that has no intersection deletes the curve.
Sketching constraints and Quick Trim

When the Create Inferred Constraints command is used, the appropriate

constraints are inferred after a trim operation.

Constraint Trim Operation

Concentric An arc in the middle.
Coincident Intersecting lines to an intersection point.

Point on Curve A curve to a boundary curve.

Collinear A line in the middle
Tangen A curve at the tangent point of a boundary curve.
Equal
t Radius An arc in the middle.
Sketcher constraints and Quick Extend

When the Create Inferred Constraints command is used, the appropriate

constraints after an extend operation are inferred.

Constraint Extend Operation Coincident A curve to

the endpoint of another curve. Point on Curve A curve to a boundary

curve.
Tangent A curve to a tangent point of a boundary
curve.
 Make Corner

Use the Make Corner command to create a corner by extending and/or trimming
two input curves to a common intersection.
If the Create Inferred Constraints option is on, a coincident constraint is created
at the intersection.

You can also hold the left mouse button and drag over curves create a
corner.
Make Corner

Make Corner works with:

• Lines

• Arcs

• Open conics

• Open splines (trimming only)

 Fillet

Use the Fillet command to create a fillet between two or three curves. You can:
• Trim all input curves or leave them untrimmed.

• Delete the third curve of a three-curve fillet.

• Specify a value for the fillet radius, or preview the fillet and determine its size
and location by moving the cursor.

• Hold the left mouse button and drag over curves to create a fillet.
Fillet

Fillet preview and final output

 Chamfer

Use the Chamfer command to bevel a sharp corner between two sketch lines.
You can create the following chamfer types:
• Symmetric

• Asymmetric

• Offset and Angle

You can also hold the left mouse button and drag over curves to create a
chamfer.
Activities: Chamfer, Fillet, Quick Trim, Quick Extend, Make Corner

In the Creating parts with sketches section, do the activities:

• Create chamfers and fillets
• Trim and extend curves, and make corners
Types of constraints

Geometric Constraints
Specify and maintain geometric conditions for or between sketch geometry.
1. Tangent

2. Vertical

3. Horizontal

4. Offset

5. Perpendicular

6. Coincident
Types of constraints

Dimensions
Specify and maintain dimensions for or between sketch geometry.
Dimensional constraints are also called driving dimensions.

Dimensional constraints look the same as Drafting dimensions. However,

while Drafting dimensions are notations, dimensional constraints control the
size of sketch objects.
Degree-of-freedom arrows

Degree-of-freedom (DOF) arrows mark points on a sketch that are free to

move. There are three types of degree-of-freedom arows: positional, rotational,
and radial.
This example shows positional constraints.

1. This point is free to move in the X direction only.

2. This point is free to move in both the X and Y

directions.

3. This point is free to move in the Y direction

only.

When Continuous Auto Dimensioning is on, DOF arrows do not appear,

because the auto created dimensions constrain the free degrees of freedom.
Overconstrained sketches

When a dimension or constraint is added that overconstrains a sketch, a message

is displayed.

1. Overconstrained dimension is red.

2. Overconstrained constraint is red.

3. Unsolved curve is gray.

Geometric Constraints

Use the Geometric Constraints command to add geometric constraints to sketch

geometry. These specify and maintain conditions for or between sketch
geometry.
You must first select a constraint type and then select the objects that you want
to constrain. This workflow allows you to quickly create the same constraint on
multiple objects.
Geometric Constraints

Constraints can:
• Define a line as being horizontal or vertical.

• Ensure that multiple lines remain parallel to each other.

• Require that several arcs have the same radius.

• Position your sketch in space or relative to outside objects.

1. Tangent

2. Vertical

3. Horizontal

4. Offset

5. Perpendicular

6. Coincident
 Geometric Constraints dialog box

When you choose the Geometric Constraints command, NX displays a dialog

box. You must first select a constraint type and then select the objects that you
want to constrain. This workflow allows you to quickly create the same constraint
on multiple objects.
Geometric Constraints shortcut toolbar

You can create geometric constraints without selecting the Geometric

Constraints command.
When you select curves, the shortcut toolbar will display all the possible
constraints for the selected curves.
Geometric Constraints shortcut toolbar

You can delete geometric constraints without selecting the Show / Remove
Constraints command.
When you select geometric constraint symbols, the shortcut toolbar will display
the Delete command.

You can also right-click objects and choose a command from the list.
 Display Sketch Constraints

Use the Display Sketch Constraints command to show all geometric constraints
applied to the sketch.
 Show / Remove Constraints

Use the Show / Remove Constraints command to display the geometric

constraints that are associated with sketch geometry. Use Show /
Remove Constraints to:
• Remove specified geometric constraints.

• List information about all geometric constraints.

• Interrogate and resolve over-constrained or conflicting conditions.

• Maintain design intent by checking for existing relationships to outside

features or objects.
Activities: Sketch Constraints

In the Creating parts with sketches section, do these activities:

• Create geometric constraints
• Add geometric constraints

• Solve an over-constrained sketch condition

Sketch dimensions

Use sketch dimensions to establish the following:

• Size of a sketch object.

• Relationship between two objects in a sketch.

• Relationship between two sketches.

• Relationship between a sketch and another feature.

Sketch dimensions are displayed like drafting dimensions: they have dimension
text, extension lines, and arrows. However, sketch dimensions differ from drafting
dimensions because you can change the dimension value. This lets you control a
feature derived from a sketch. Sketch dimensions also create an expression you
can edit in the Expressions dialog box.
Sketch dimensions

Perpendicular, Horizontal, Vertical, and Angular dimensions maintain their

direction when the expression value is set to zero. You can also enter
negative values for these dimension types to achieve the same results as
using the Alternate Solution command.
Sketch dimension types

Sketch Dimension types

Creates a dimensional constraint by inferring the
Rapid Dimension dimension type based on selected objects and the
location of the cursor.
Creates a linear distance constraint between two objects
Linear Dimension
or point positions.

Creates a radius or diameter constraint to a circular

Radial Dimension
object.

Angular Dimension Creates

lines.
an angular constraint between two non-parallel

Perimeter Creates a perimeter constraint to control the collective

Dimension length of selected lines and arcs.
Rapid Dimension dialog box

When Rapid Dimension is selected, the Rapid Dimension dialog box opens.
References
The two references for the dimension.
Depending on the first selection, a second
selection may not be necessary.
Origin
Locates the text of the dimension.
Measurement
Methods to specify a dimension.
Driving
Converts the dimension into a reference
dimension instead of a driving dimension.
 Convert To/From Reference

Use the Convert To/From Reference command to convert sketch curves from
active to reference, or dimensions from driving to reference.
Downstream commands do not use reference curves and reference dimensions
do not control sketch geometry.
By default NX displays reference curves in Phantom line font:

1. Active curves

2. Reference curve

3. Reference dimension

4. Driving dimensions
Activities: Create constraints

In the Creating parts with sketches section, do the activities:

• Add dimensional constraints
• Fully constrain a profile

• Edit and constrain a u-shaped sketch

• Sketch in context of an assembly
Projects: Simple Sketching

In the Projects section, there are three sketching projects.

Tier 1

Pulley -
part 1

Tier 2
Flywheel -
part 1
 Tank -
part 1

These are the beginning sketches for components that will make up the
compressor project.
Review: Creating parts with sketches

1. True/False: A sketch is a Feature.

• True

2. What determines which layer a sketch is created on?

• The work layer at the time of sketch creation.

3. True/False: A sketch must be fully constrained before creating a feature.

• False

4. Dimensional constraints determine the size of your sketch.

• True

5. Geometric constraints determine the shape of your sketch.

• True

6. How does the system show what points are not fully specified in a sketch?
• Degree of Freedom Arrows
Summary: Creating parts with sketches

This lesson introduced the concept of creating a sketch.

Sketches may be used to define a base feature, guide paths, and additional
associative features to the base feature.
A sketch parametrically controls curves.
Constraints are applied to sketch objects in order to capture the design intent.
In this lesson you:
• Created sketches directly in Modeling, on solid faces, and a Datum
CSYS.

• Manipulated the visibility of sketches using the Show/Hide commands from

the Part Navigator.

• Created and edited curves in a sketch.

• Created inferred and explicit geometric constraints.

• Created and edited dimensional constraints.