SOLIDWORKS 2023

Advanced Techniques
Mastering Parts, Surfaces, Sheet Metal,
SimulationXpress, Top Down Assemblies,
Core & Cavity Molds

Paul Tran CSWE, CSWI

SDC
P U B L I C AT I O N S
Better Textbooks. Lower Prices.
www.SDCpublications.com
 Visit the following websites to learn more about this book:

Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

CHAPTER 1
Introduction to 3D Sketch
Introduction to 3D Sketch

SOLIDWORKS has 3D sketch capabilities. A 3D sketch consists

of lines and arcs in series and splines. You can use a 3D sketch as a sweep path, as
a guide curve for a loft or sweep, a centerline for a loft, or as one of the key entities
in a piping system. Geometric relations can also be added to 3D Sketches.

Parameters

X Coordinate

Y Coordinate

Z Coordinate

Curvature (Spline curvature at the frame point)

Tangency (In the XY plane)

Tangency (In the XZ plane)

Tangency (In the YZ plane)

Space Handle

When working in a 3D sketch, a graphical assistant is provided to help you maintain

your orientation while you sketch on several planes. This assistant is called a space
handle. The space handle appears when the first point of a line or spline is defined
on a selected plane. Using the space handle you can select the axis along which you
want to sketch.

1-1
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

Introduction to 3D Sketch

View Orientation Hot Keys:

Ctrl + 1 = Front View
Ctrl + 2 = Back View
Ctrl + 3 = Left View
Ctrl + 4 = Right View
Ctrl + 5 = Top View
Ctrl + 6 = Bottom View
Ctrl + 7 = Isometric View Dimensioning Standards: ANSI
Ctrl + 8 = Normal To Units: INCHES – 3 Decimals
Selection

Tools Needed:

3D Sketch 2D Sketch Sketch Line

Dimension Add Geometric

Circle
Relations

Base/ Boss
Sketch Fillet Tab Tab Key
Sweep

1-2
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

1. Starting a new part file:

Click File / New.

Select the Part template and

click OK.

Set the Units to IPS, 3 decimals.

2. Creating a 3D Sketch:

Click or select Insert / 3D Sketch and change to Isometric view (Control+7).

Select the Line tool and sketch the first line along the X direction. A yellow
symbol appears next to the mouse cursor when the line is drawn along the X
axis; this indicates an Along X relation (horizontal) is being added to the line.

Reference Axis
Indicator

Sketch the second line along the Y axis as shown.

Inference lines

Reference TRIAD

1-3
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

3. Changing direction:

By default your sketch is relative to the default coordinate system in the model.

To switch to one of the other two default planes, press the TAB key and the
reference origin of the current sketch plane is displayed on that plane.

Space Handle
The TAB key

While sketching the

lines, press the TAB
key to switch to other
planes/directions.

4. Completing the profile:

Sketch the other lines and X

follow the directions Z
as labeled, press
the TAB key
if needed to
change the
direction. Z Y
Z

X
Y

X
X

1-4
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

5. Adding dimensions:

Click Smart Dimension or select Tools / Dimensions / Smart Dimension.

Click the first line and enter a dimension of 3.00in.

There is not a general sequence

to follow when adding dimensions, See
so for this lesson, add the dimensions Note*
in the same order you sketched the lines.

Note: To make the dimensions parallel to the lines

as shown, select the line and an endpoint
instead of selecting just the endpoints.

Continue adding the dimensions to

fully define the 3D sketch as shown.

Rearrange the dimensions so

they are easy to read, which will
make editing a little easier later on.

1-5
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

6. Adding the Sketch Fillets:

Click Fillet on the Features toolbar or select Tools / Sketch Tools / Fillet.

Add .500” fillets to all the intersections as indicated.

Enable the Keep Constrained Corner check box (to maintain the virtual
intersection point if the vertex has dimensions or relations).

Click OK when finished.

Exit the 3D Sketch

or press Control + Q.

Geometric Relations

Geometric Relations such as Along X, Y, Z

and Equal can also be used to replace
some of the duplicate dimensions.

1-6
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

7. Creating the Swept feature:

The Circular Profile option allows you to create a solid rod or hollow tube along a
path, edge, or curve directly on a model without having to sketch the circular
profile. This enhancement is available for Swept Boss/Base, Swept Cut, and Swept
Surface features.

Click or select Insert / Boss-Base / Sweep.

Select the Circle Profile option and enter .250in for the diameter of the profile .

Select the 3D Sketch for Sweep Path (3Dsketch1).

Click OK.

8. Saving your work:

Select File / Save As.

Enter 3D Sketch for the file name.

Click Save.

1-7
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

Questions for Review

1. When using 3D Sketch you do not have to pre-select a plane as you would in 2D Sketch.
a. True
b. False

2. The space handle appears only after the first point of a line is started.
a. True
b. False

3. To switch to other planes (or direction) in 3D Sketch mode, press:

a. Up Arrow
b. Down Arrow
c. TAB key
d. CONTROL key

4. Dimensions cannot be used in 3D Sketch mode.

a. True
b. False

5. Geometric Relations cannot be used in 3D Sketch mode.

a. True
b. False

6. All sketch tools in 2D Sketch are also available in 3D Sketch.

a. True
b. False

7. When adding sketch fillets, the option Keep Constrained Corner will create a virtual
intersection point but will not create a radius dimension.
a. True
b. False

8. 3D Sketch entities can be used as a path in a swept feature.

a. True
b. False

1-8
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

Exercise: Sweep with 3D Sketch

1. Create the part shown below using 3D Sketch.

2. Save your work as:

Sweep_3D Sketch_Exe.

1-9
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

Exercise: 3D Sketch & Planes

A 3D sketch normally consists of lines and arcs in series, and

splines. You can use a 3D sketch as a sweep path, as a guide
curve for a loft or sweep, a centerline for a loft, or as one of
the key entities in a routing system.
The following exercise shows how several planes can be
used to help define the directions of 3D Sketch Entities.

1. Sketching the reference Pivot lines:

Select the Top plane and

open a new sketch.

Sketch 2 Centerlines
and add dimensions
as shown.

2. Creating the 1st 45º Plane:

Select Insert/Reference Geometry/Planes.

Click the At Angle button and enter 45 for Angle (arrow).

Select the Top plane and the Vertical line as noted.

Select the top plane

and the vertical line…

Click OK.

1-10
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

3. Creating the 2nd 45° Plane:

Click the Plane command or select Insert/Reference Geometry/Planes .

Click the At Angle option and enter 45 for Angle (arrow).

Select the Front plane and the Horizontal Line as noted.

Select the front plane

and the horizontal line

Click OK.

Starting point
(At the endpoint
of the centerline)
1st line

4. Creating the 3D Sketch:

Select the Top plane

and click Insert/3D Sketch .

Sketch the 1st Line along the Z direction

as noted (or Vertical along the Top plane).

1-11
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

Select Plane2 (45 deg.) from the FeatureManager tree and sketch the 2nd Line
along the Y direction (watch the cursor feedback symbol).

1st line
Switching Planes

While sketching the lines,

hold the Control key and
click a plane to switch from
one plane to another, or
simply select them from the
FeatureManager tree each
time.

Sketch the rest of lines on the planes as labeled below.

For clarity, hide all the planes (select View / Hide-Show and click off Planes).
We will select the planes from the FeatureManager tree when needed.

Plane1

Plane2

Plane2
Plane1
Plane2

Top

Top

Plane2

Top

1-12
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

Top View (Ctrl + 5) Right View (Ctrl + 4)

Add the dimensions below to fully define the sketch.

1-13
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

Add Sketch Fillets of .500 in.

to all corners.

Exit the 3D Sketch or

press Ctrl+Q.

5. Creating a Perpendicular plane:

Select Insert/Reference Geometry/Plane .

Select the line and its endpoint approximately as shown.

The Perpendicular option should be selected by default.

Click
here

A new plane normal to the

selected line is created.

Click OK.

1-14
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

6. Sketching the Sweep Profile:

Select the new plane

(Plane3) and open a new sketch .

Sketch 2 Circles
on the same center and
add the dimensions as
shown to fully define
the sketch.

7. Sweeping the Profile along the 3D Path:

Click or Select Insert/Boss Base/Sweep.

Select the Circles as the Sweep Profile .

Select the 3D Sketch as the Sweep Path .

Click OK.

1-15
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

The resulting Swept feature.

8. Hiding the Planes:

Select View / Hide-Show / Planes.

The planes are temporarily put away

from the scene.

9. Saving your work:

Select File / Save As.

Enter 3D Sketch_Planes
for the name of the file.

Click Save.

1-16
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

Exercise: 3D Sketch & Composite Curve

A 3D sketch normally consists of lines and arcs in series and

Splines. You can use a 3D sketch as a sweep path, as a guide
curve for a loft or sweep, a centerline for a loft, or as one of
the key entities in a routing system.

The following exercise demonstrates how several 3D Sketches

can be created, combined into 1 continuous Composite Curve,
and used as a Sweep Path.

1. Creating a 2D sketch:

Select Top plane and sketch

a 1.00in diameter Circle

and 2 Centerlines .

2. Creating a Helix:

Select Insert/Curve/

Helix-Spiral .

Pitch: .250 in.

Revolution: 10.

Starting Angle: 0 deg.

Click OK.

1-17
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

3. Creating the 1st 3D sketch:

Select Insert/3D Sketch .

Select the Line command

and sketch the 1st line
along the X direction. X
Z

Z
Y Z
On-Plane relation Y
(End point & Right plane) X

Add other lines in the directions as labeled.

Add Dimensions to fully define the sketch.

Add Sketch Fillets

of .250in. to all corners.

Exit the 3D Sketch or press Ctrl + Q.

1-18
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

4. Creating the 2nd 3D sketch:

Select Insert/3D Sketch .

Select the Line command and sketch the 1st line along the X direction.

Sketch the rest of the lines following their direction shown below.

Z
X
Z
X

On-Plane relation
(End point & Right plane)

Add Dimensions to
fully define the sketch.

Add Sketch Fillets of .250 in.

to all corners.

( ) ( )

( )

Exit the 3D Sketch or press Ctrl+Q.

1-19
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

5. Combining the curves:

Select the Composite Curve command below the Curves button, or select:
Insert / Curve / Composite.

Select the 3 Sketches either from the FeatureManager tree or directly from the
graphics area.

Click OK.

The sketches are now

combined to 1 continuous curve.
We will use it as the sweep path in the next few steps.

1-20
 SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

6. Creating a Sweep using Circular Profile:

Select Insert/Boss Base/ Sweep .

Select the Circle Profile option (arrow).

For sweep profile, enter .165 in .

For Sweep Path, select the Composite Curve .

Click OK.

7. Saving your work:

Click File/Save As.

Enter 3D Sketch_ Composite Curve

for the name of the file.

Click Save.

1-21
SOLIDWORKS 2023 l Advanced Techniques l Introduction to 3D Sketch

1-22