SolidWorks Sketching Tricks & Tips

Using Convert EntitiesAnd

Offset Entities

<convertEnt-OffsetEnt.pptx>

What the heck is convert entities?

• Is it a cool way to add geometry to your model without having to draw it ‘by hand’?

• Is it a cool way to add geometry to your model and have it relate to existing geometry (so if the original changes, so does the new stuff!)?

• Answer: “Yes”.

Convert Entities

• Copies one or more curves into the active sketch by projecting them onto the sketch plane.

• Curves can be:– Edges of faces– Entities in other sketches

• Easy and fast– Select face or curve & click tool

Offset Entities• Creates copy of existing sketch entity, but ‘moved’ a

short distance from the original (i.e. “offset”)• If original changes, so will the ‘offsetted’ entity

How were these used in Tutor2???• “copy and twiddle” – i.e. same thing you do all the time in

Word when you copy a phrase or para & edit it to the new form you want

• Offset Entities: the “copy” part of copy-and-twiddle• Convert Entities: the “twiddle” part of ‘copy-and-twiddle’

To Create ‘Outside’ Curve:

1. Select sketch plane & open new sketch.

2. Select face or curves to convert (for Tutor2, select face)

3. Click Convert Entities on Sketch toolbar.

4. Outside edges of face are copied into active sketch.

5. Sketch is fully defined – no dimensions needed

NB: “outside edges” of this face consist of 8 components: 4 straight line segments and 4 arcs (for the fillets). These are “connected” end-to-end to form a continuous curve.

NB: “sketch plane” is plane defined by front face of Tutor2

To Create the Inside Curve1. Click Offset Entities on Sketch

toolbar-- Prop Mgr opens.2. Enter dist: 2mm.3. Select a converted entity.4. Select chain option causes offset to

continue around the contour.5. System generates preview.6. Small arrow points toward cursor.

If move cursor to other side of line, arrow changes direction (shows side offset will be created on).

7. Move cursor inside contour. Click to create offset.

8. Resulting sketch is fully defined. There is only one dimension & it controls the offset distance.