CATIA Tips

Best Practices Tips in Sketcher Workbench

Design intent is first captured in the sketches that are used to create 3D part
features. Hence the way the sketch is created is more important.
1. First of all BASE sketching plane is to be selected to match the actual front view of the input 2D, so as to match the actual
front view of 3D orientation.
2 Positioned sketch is more recommended than sliding sketch. Positioned sketch can be used in case of large parts to get
proper orientation.
3 Recommended sketch settings are shown in the image below. In sketch tools the geometric constraints and dimensional
constraints should be enabled.

4. The Base sketch should be created with respect to Global axis as a center for easy construction and modifications.
(Except for re-mastering and Top down assembly)
5. Dimensions should be created nearer or in-between the entities, for simpler representation.

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6. The Geometric relations / constraints should be created first. This helps in reducing the number of dimensions needed to fully
constrain the sketch.
7. Sketch should be created with minimal usage of construction lines.
8. Depending on the situation, the solid can be kept or hidden using the visualization mode (as shown below)
This provides clear screen to create dimensions and constraints easily.

9. Reusing the previous sketch entities is advisable rather than extracting the 3D edges for creating new sketch as shown below

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10. Sketches should be constrained properly in such a way that, it should allow future modifications, adjustments and get
updated automatically without destroying the related features/sketches, to maintain the same design intent.
11. It is recommended to use the 2D drawing dimension for creating sketch parameters instead of calculated/derived
dimensions.
12. Transformations in the sketches can be avoided; instead it can be used as a part design feature.
13. Draft angle, fillets & chamfers should not be combined in the sketch itself to avoid complexity in sketch. If these are
sketched, they cannot be activated or deactivated individually.
14. Open loop sketches in Solid models can be avoided unless it is important.
15. Sketches should be simple in construction. Complex sketches should be avoided.
16. The sketch should be cleaned up visually and sketch analysis should be used to check whether it is fully constrained.
17. Fully constrained status can be confirmed if all the elements in the sketch appear in green colour.
18. The magenta colour of constraints or dimensions indicates that the sketch is over-constrained.

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