Part II: Building Intelligence into Your Parts
FIGURE 7.3Different types of geometry created from thin feature extrudes
Sketch types ..................................................................................................
I have already mentioned several sketch types, including closed loop and open loop. Closed loop
sketches make solid features by default, but you can also use them to make thin features. Open
loop sketches make thin features by default, and you cannot use them to make solid features. A
nested loop is one closed loop inside another, like concentric circles. Self-intersecting sketches can
be any type of sketch where the geometry crosses itself. SolidWorks also identifies sketches where
three or more sketch elements intersect at a point by issuing an error if you try to use the sketch in
a feature.Sketch contoursSketch contours enable you to select enclosed areas where the sketch entities themselves actually
cross or otherwise violate the usual sketch rules. One of these conditions is the self-intersecting
contour.