SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part I: SolidWorks Basics

FIGURE 3.19

The Move Entities interface

Polygon creates a regular n-sided polygon in the same way as a circle. Click the center and drag the

radius. You need to set the number of sides in the PropertyManager before clicking in the graphics

window.

Ellipse is created by clicking the center, dragging one axis, and then dragging the other axis.

Partial Ellipse is created by clicking the center, dragging one axis, dragging the other axis, and then
clicking and dragging the included angle of the partial ellipse. The Partial Ellipse feature works like
the Centerpoint Arc command.

Parabola is created by clicking the location for the Focus, and then dragging the position of the
Apex. You then click and drag the included angle of the parabola, as shown in Figure 3.20. This is
a rarely used sketch entity and is often difficult to control with sketch relations or dimensions.

Note

The Parabola is the closest thing SolidWorks has to the conic sketch type found in other popular CAD pack-

ages. Few people use the Parabola in SolidWorks. The next closest to the conic is the Partial Ellipse, then the

three-point spline. n

Spline on Surface is used in 3D sketches to draw a freeform spline on any 3D surface. The Spline

on Surface feature can cross face boundaries as long as the faces are at least tangent (ideally curva-

ture continuous) across the edge. Spline on Surface can be used to trim surfaces or create split

lines.