So far, we have used complete sketches for part creation with all our sketch based feature tools. We can use as many closed profiles in the tools as we want. However, we have never used only certain selected profiles present in the sketch. What if, we wish to use some profiles within the sketch for part creation and ignore the others? We can do this with the use of command "Go to profile definition".
The profile definition can be used for other commands too like, pocket, shaft, rib groove. The tool comes in really handy when you do not wish to disturb the sketches and wish to use them with minimum modification. With the use of two limits options present in Pad, pocket etc, you can also create material at some offset distance from the sketch plane. You may also use this with Solid combine, where multiple closed profiles cannot be used and you only require to use a single profile for part creation.
 |
| How to use selective parts of sketch? |
The command is available in the contextual menu after you right click in the Selection area of Profile/Surface. This will provide you with options, and you can delete the whole geometry and select sub-elements of your sketch that you wish to select for feature creation. You can either use the whole geometry or as many sub-elements that you wish. After you press OK, only the selected portions of the sketch will be used.
 |
| Profile definition dialogue box |
 |
| Positioned sketch |
The sketch option you have been using so far is referred to as non-positioned sketch or simply sketch or sliding sketch. The drawback with the option is that Vertical and Horizontal orientation is chosen by system and origin is the absolute origin. This may work fine if you only need to create just one sketch and if it's not in reference to existing geometry in 3D space. However, you may often require to sketch and orient the Vertical and Horizontal so that sketching becomes easy. This can be done using a Positioned sketch. With this you can not only orient the H and V axis but also use a point of your choice as origin.
For example, the object on the right requires two sketches. The secondary sketch made on the periphery of the circular main body would require a relative position, not offered by a sliding sketch.
 |
| Positioned sketch options |
However, with the use of Positioned Sketch, the V and H of the sketch can be oriented in a manner of preference which makes sketching easier. In this case a line with some angle to the vertical axis was used for orientation of the sketch to make sketching easier.
You may need to first create reference elements if you don't have lines for reference for providing V and H orientation. You can choose the reference, which is basically the plane on which you wish to make a sketch. While origin point may be projection point on the plane, midpoint of line, line intersection with plane etc. Orientation of Vertical or Horizontal can be provide with respect to a line, edge of part etc.
It's worth keeping in mind that even if you have made a sliding sketch, you can convert it into positioned sketch by right clicking on the sketch from the specification tree and using the option Sketch.x Object>Change sketch support, from the type field select Positioned.
You may need to first create reference elements if you don't have lines for reference for providing V and H orientation. You can choose the reference, which is basically the plane on which you wish to make a sketch. While origin point may be projection point on the plane, midpoint of line, line intersection with plane etc. Orientation of Vertical or Horizontal can be provide with respect to a line, edge of part etc.
It's worth keeping in mind that even if you have made a sliding sketch, you can convert it into positioned sketch by right clicking on the sketch from the specification tree and using the option Sketch.x Object>Change sketch support, from the type field select Positioned.