Chapter 1: Introducing SolidWorks
- Activate the 3 pt Corner Rectangle. To find it through a menu, choose Tools ➪ Sketch
Entities ➪ 3pt Corner Rectangle.
- Click the first point inside the circle, click the second point outside the circle,
and click the third point such that one end of the rectangle is completely inside the
circle. Use Figure 1.30 as a reference. Avoid making any two points vertical or horizontal
from one another. You will learn in Chapter 3 about how to control automatic relations
in more detail.
FIGURE 1.30
Sketching a three-point rectangle
- Activate the Centerline tool by choosing Tools ➪ Sketch Entities ➪ Centerline. Click
and hold the left mouse button first at the Origin, then at the midpoint of the far end of
the rectangle release the mouse button, as shown in Figure 1.31. When the cursor gets
close to the midpoint of the end of the rectangle, it snaps into place. Press Esc to turn off
the Centerline tool.
- Select the centerline and Ctrl+select the line with which it shares the midpoint rela-
tion. After making the second selection, do not move the cursor, and you will see a set of
options in a pop-up context toolbar. Click the Make Perpendicular icon, as shown in
Figure 1.32, and the rectangle becomes symmetric about the centerline.
