SolidWorks 2010 Bible

Part I: SolidWorks Basics

Sketch techniques ..........................................................................................

Although you could create the next two features more easily and efficiently using a cut, I will show

you how to create them as two extrudes. The intent here is to show some useful sketch techniques

rather than optimum efficiency. Begin with the part from the previous section and follow these steps:

1. Open a new sketch on the large face opposite from the groove. Draw a corner rectan-
   gle picking up the automatic coincident relation to one corner and then dragging across
   the part and picking up another coincident to the edge on the opposite side. Figure 4.7
   shows the rectangle before and after this edit.

Tip
If you want to continue using the recommended best practice mentioned earlier of making relations to
sketches rather than model edges, here are a few tips. In some situations (such as the current one), the sketch
plane is offset from the sketch that you want to make relations to, and the best bet is to use the Normal To
view. The next obstacle is making sure that automatic relations pick up the sketch rather than the edge, and so
you can use the Selection Filter to select sketch entities only. n

2. Delete the Horizontal relation on the line that is not lined up with an edge. This
   enables you to drag it to an angle or apply the dimensions shown in Figure 4.7.


3. Extrude sketch to a depth of 0.25 inch.

FIGURE 4.7

Edits to a rectangle

Automatic

coincident relation

Delete

horizontal relation

Automatic

coincident relation