Hi, I am wondering how to manually position a sketch. I have a rectange which I want to manually input the x and y coordinates of the center of the sketch. Is there a way to do this? Specifically I want to position a smaller rectange inside a bigger rectange and be able to manually set the offet of the vertical and horizonal offset of the smaller one in reference to the larger one.
normally, this would be accomplished with dimensions. would that work for you?
Thank you for the response. I have an extruded rectange, and I want to extrude cut a rectange in the center. So, I drew a rectange (sketch4) inside the front plane of the extrude. Before I perform the cut, I want to manually position the rectange. Which dimension feature would this be?
the smart dimension tool? the same you would use to make any dimension in the sketch.
have you done any of the tutuorials included with SW, or gone to any training?
Do you have a rectangle (solid block) and want to cut a square out of the middle of the block?
Got it, thanks for the hints.
Another related question, after cutting a rectangular hole though an extruded box, is there anyway to reduce the size of the hole part. That is, increase the size of the outer "fence" without have to stat over again and reduce the size of the innter extrude cut. When I click smart dimension there is only one tool which looks like a diagonal ruler.
Instead of giving the inner rectanggle separate dimensions, dimension it from the outer rectangle.
This will ensure that no matter what size you make the outer, the wall thickness will remain the same.
you can also do a thin feature extrude of the rectangle, give you the wall thickness that you can change.
http://help.solidworks.com/2013/English/SolidWorks/sldworks/c_example_extruding_thin_features.htm
Thank you, however the thin wall feature only gives equal wall thicknesses. How can I do with while making the wall thickness different sizes on each face? 2 the same, the other 2 different from the first 2 (but euqal).
Draw a construction line from each of the inner faces to its corresponding outer one.
Add an equal relationship between each pair of lines.
Dimension one line in each pair.
Not sure I understand. I have created an extruded box, aded a rectangle sketch inside. Then added construction lines going from each inner face to the outer. I then cut extruded, how do I vary the side walls?
1: Hold down CTRL & click on 2 of your construction lines - let's say the horizontal ones. You'll get a pop-up with various symbols on it select the "=" one & click on the tick.
2: Next, do the same with the vertical line.
3: Now dimension one horizontal line & one vertical line to how thick you want the wall at each point.
If you want each wall a different thickness, ignore 1 & 2.
first you have to have dimensions from the smart dimension tool then just double click the feature in the tree or the graphics area, the dims will pop up the double click the dim and box will pop up the change it there.
or right mouse on the feature in the tree or graphics area and edit sketch, the solid goes away and shows the sketch you can edit there by double clicking the dim.
here is another way to sketch this:
the smart dimension tool? the same you would use to make any dimension in the sketch.
have you done any of the tutuorials included with SW, or gone to any training?