Mechanical CAD

Ding Shuhui
Associate Professor

2 Creating a Sketch

Outline of this chapter

Basis of sketch and sketcher
First step of parametric sketch: creating geometry
Second step of parametric sketch: manipulate geometry
(including editing and modifying geometry)
Third step of parametric sketch (1): constraining
geometry
Third step of parametric sketch (2): dimensioning
geometry
Auxiliary (construction) geometry and parametric sketch
example

2.1 Basis of sketch and sketcher

Technical terminology of sketch
Concept of parametric sketch
Basic steps of parametric sketch
Interface of sketcher
How to use mouse in sketcher

1. Technical terminology
Dimension: a measurement of an entity or a distance
between entities
Constraint: a condition defining the geometry of an
entity or a relationship among entities, such as parallel
or equal radius
Weak dimension and constraint: a system-generated
measurement solving the sketch
Strong dimension and constraint: a fixed measurement
that you create to convey intent

2. Concept of parametric sketch

Sketcher: the tool for creating 2D figures in
Pro/E
in Pro/E, 2D figures can be embedded elements
that define the cross section shape of some solid
features
The above 2D figures are called sketch, or cross
section

2. Concept of parametric sketch

Why are the figures called sketch?
You do not have to be particularly exact when you are
drawing the shape
Sketcher will interpret what you are drawing within a
built-in set of rules
For example:
If you sketch a line that is approximately vertical, sketcher
assumes that you want it vertical
If you sketch two circles that have approximately the same
radius, sketch assumes that you want the radius to be same

2. Concept of parametric sketch

Procedure of parametric sketch:
Draw the figures with approximately shape, without precision
constraint and dimension
Add constraints and dimensions to the sketch

Example
Initial design: sketch a cylinder without dimension and
constraint
Modify H and two other location dimension to get
precision model

This design procedure is called parametric sketch

3. Theoretic procedure of parametric sketch

Create sketch geometry
Manipulate sketch geometry
Add constraint and dimension

1 create geometry

3 constraint: equal radii and

2 vertices horizontal alignment

2 edit: trim

3 constraint: tangent

3 add dimensions

3. General procedure of parametric sketch

Create outline of sketch, and add dimension and constraint
Add details and finish the graphics
In every step of the above, there is a procedure of creating
geometry, manipulating geometry and add constraint and
dimension

4. Sketcher interface
File > New: sketch
Frequently used toolbar
File
View

Frequently used menus

4. Interface: toolbar
Select button
Create geometry: circle, arc, line, text,
chamfer, fillet and so no
Dimension and constraint: linear or angular
dimension, and all the constraints
Edit: modify, trim, copy, translate, rotate,
scale and so on
Confirm: done or quit

5. Mouse functions in the sketcher

Click left button: select
Drag holding middle button down: pan
Roll wheel (middle button): zoom
Ctrl + drag middle button vertical: zoom

2.2 First step of parametric sketch: creating geometry

Creating of line, construction centerline and line tangent
Creating of rectangle, slant rectangle and parallelogram
Creating of circle, arc and ellipse
Creating of fillet and chamfer
Creating of spline curve
Creating of point and coordinate system
Create of text
Import a shape from sketcher palette or external file

General procedure of geometry creating

The creating procedures of line, circle, arc, rectangle,
spline and so no are similar
General procedure:
Pick the button to invoke the command
Click left mouse button in the graphics area to confirm the first
point, which maybe is the start point, center point and so no
Click left mouse button to select other points
At last, click middle button to finish the command

1. Creating of line and centerline

Pick the button to invoke the command
Sketch > line > line
Sketch >line > centerline

Click left mouse button in the graphics area to confirm the start
point
Click left mouse button to select end point
Click middle button to finish the command
Attention
The line above is a line segment
Centerline is infinitely long, and is only used as auxiliary line
Centerlines have two kinds: construction centerline and geometry centerline

2. Creating of circle
Center and Point
Select a point for the center point. The circumference of the circle is created
Drag the circle to the desired circle size and click to place the circumference.

Concentric circle
Select one of arc/arc center point/circle/circle center point as a reference. A concentric circle
appears
Drag the circle to the desired size and click to place the circumference

3-point circle
Select a point for the first point.
Select the second point. The circle is previewed.
Select the third point.

Circle tangent to three entities

Select an arc, circle, or line to define the first entity of tangency
Select another arc, circle, or line to define the second tangent entity. The circle is previewed
Select the third tangency point on an arc, circle, or line. The circle is created.

3. Creating of arc
3-point arc
Select a point for the first endpoint
Select the second endpoint. The arc is previewed
Drag the arc to the desired size and click to place it. The arc is created

Concentric arc
Select one of arc/arc center point/circle/circle center point as a reference. A concentric construction circle is
created
Drag the construction circle to the desired radius and click to place it
Select the first arc endpoint. The construction circle is removed
Select the second endpoint. The arc is created

Create an Arc Using Center and Endpoints

Select a point for the arc center point. A construction circle is created
Move the pointer to the desired radius and click to place it
Select a point for the first endpoint. The construction circle is removed.
Select the second endpoint.

Create an Arc Tangent to Three Entities

Select an arc, circle, or line to define the first entity of tangency
Select another arc, circle, or line to define the second tangent entity. The arc is previewed
Select a third arc, circle, or line to define the third tangency point

4. Creating construction line and other entity

Construction entities are used for reference and are not
used to create feature geometry
Use the Toggle Construction command in the Edit menu
to create construction entities
Select an entity
Edit > Toggle Construction
Pro/E converts the solid geometry into construction geometry

5. Creating a line segment tangent to two entities

Click

or Sketch > Line > Line Tangent. The

Select dialog box opens.

Select an arc or circle at the first tangency point. An
endpoint is created
Select another arc or circle at the second tangency point.
The line is created
Attention: sketcher specifies inscribe or circumscribe
circle according to the selected points

6. Creating of rectangle, slant rectangle or parallelogram

Click

Select a point for the first vertex

According to different figure, execute the following
Rectangle: Drag the rectangle the desired size and select a point for the
opposite vertex
Slant rectangle: Move the pointer to the desired position for the next vertex
and select it. First side is created. Move the pointer to determine the lengths
of the sides, select the third vertex.
Parallelogram: Move the pointer to the desired position for the next vertex
and select it. First sides are created. Move the pointer to determine the
lengths of the sides and angles of the shape and select the third vertex.

7. Creating of fillet and chamfer

Circular fillet arc (round)
Sketch > Fillet > Circular or

Select two lines. The fillet is created between the

selected points and the lines are trimmed.

chamfer
Sketch > Chamfer > Chamfer or
Select 2 lines. The selected points is the place the chamfer
generated.

Chamfer trim: the same as above

8. Creating a spline
Sketch > Spline
Select a point for the spline endpoint
Select additional spline points and middle-click
to exit the tool
The spline is created

9. Creating a point and coordinate system

Point and coordinate system in sketcher
Point: construction point and geometry point
Coordinate point: construction and geometry

Geometry point and coordinate system are new

functions in Pro/E Wf 5.0, and can be used outside of
sketcher
Procedure
Click corresponding button.
Select a location for the point

10. Creating text

Sketch > Text
select a start point
Click an end point. construction line between two
points is created. The length of the construction
line determines the height of the text, while the
angle of the line determines the text orientation
Input text and set up format

11. Import a shape from sketcher palette

Sketcher provides a library of
predefined shapes, which can be
resized, translated, and rotated
Include: polygon, stars, profiles and
shapes
Sketch > data from file > palette
Double click the desired shape, and
click in graphics area
Resize, rotate or scale shape.

12. Import a file into sketcher

Section on disk can be retrieved on the current

sketch, including Pro/E sketch, IGES, DWG and

so on
Procedure
Click Sketch > Data from File > File System. Open dialog
box opens
Select the required file, select a location to place the imported
drawing and click
Adjust the placement, orientation, and size of imported entities

2.3 Second step of parametric sketch: manipulate geometry

Selection set
Delete entity
Modify entity by dragging it
Copy entity
Trim entity
Translate, rotate and scale entity
Modify text
Modify a spline

1. Building of selection set

Click the entity directly
Left-click and drag to form a rectangle around a set of
entities. Anything completely inside the rectangle is
selected
Hold down Ctrl and left-click multiple entities: select
multiple entities
Attention: you can remove entities from selection set
using
Ctrl + left-click
Ctrl + rectangle select

2. Delete entity
Build selection set
Delete entity by following method
Press Delete on the keyboard
Pull-down menu: Edit > Delete
Hold down the right mouse button and select Delete
from the pop-up menu

Attention: entity, constraint and dimension can be

selected and deleted

3. Modify entity by dragging it

Drag point: translate
Drag line segment: translate, rotate or scale
Drag circle:
Drag center: translate
Drag circumference: scale

Drag spline: scale, rotate or change shape

Attention: drag the entity to its new location when
holding down Shift, you can snap entity onto new
location and define new constraints

4. Copy entity
Build selection set
Edit > Copy or Ctrl+C: selected entity is placed
on the clipboard
Edit > paste or Ctrl+V: select a location to place
entity and specify scale and rotate

5. Mirror geometry
Build selection set
Edit > Mirror: select a centerline. System mirrors
all selected geometry about the selected
centerline.

6. Trim entity
Delete segment: dynamically trim entities
Corner: select two entities to trim
Cut: If entities have intersection, the clicked portions
form a corner and other portions are deleted
Extend: If entities dont intersect, entities are extend
and form a corner

Divide: divide entity into two entities at pointed

1

location

Cut

Extend

7. Translate, rotate and scale entity

Build selection set
Edit > Move & Resize: move & resize dialog
opens and input the value, or drag the
corresponding handle

8. Edit text
Double click the text,

or Edit > modify

Select the text that you want to modify. The Text dialog
box opens
Use the Text dialog box to modify text

2.4 Constraint in sketch: third step of sketch

Available constraints
Creation of constraints
lock or disabling of constraints

1. constraint

2. Creating of constraints
Dynamically creating constraints while sketching
move cursor within the tolerance of a constraint
cursor snaps to that constraint and shows symbol
Left-click to accept it

Adding Constraints to Sketched Entities

Click

and select constraint

Select entities to constrain and constraint is applied.

Normal constraint

3. lock or disabling of constraints

Lock the offered constraint
When the symbol is shown, right-click to lock the
constraint, shown as
Two right-clicks again disable the lock

Disable the offered constraint

When the symbol is shown, two right-clicks to
disable the constraint, shown as
Right-clicks again disable it

2.5 Creating dimensions: third step of sketch

Creating dimensions
Modifying of dimensions
Lock or unlock dimensions
Resolving a conflict

1. Creating dimensions
linear dimension
Distance between two parallel lines
Distance between a point and a line
Distance between two arcs
Distance between circle and line
between two points
Radial, diameter and angular dimension

1 linear dimension
Length of line segment:
Sketch > Dimension > Normal or click
Left click to select
Middle click to place the dimension

Distance between two parallel lines

Distance between a point and a line

1. Left click to select

entities

Distance between two arcs

Distance between circle and line
between two points

2. Middle click to
place the dimension

2 dimension between 2 points

123: linear distance
67: vertical dimension
45: horizontal dimension
4

3 Radial, diameter and angular dimension

Radial dimension:
Sketch > Dimension > Normal or click
Select the circle or arc
Middle-click to place the dimension

Diameter dimension: double-click the circle or arc

Angle dimension:
Sketch > Dimension > Normal or click
Select first line
Select second line
Middle-click to place the dimension

2. Modifying of dimensions
Drag the dimension to a new position

Modify dimension value

Double-click and input new value

Edit > Modify or button

3. Lock or unlock dimensions

Select a dimension
Right-click and choose Lock or Unlock from the
shortcut menu or click Edit >Toggle Lock
The dimension status is changed
Lock

4. Resolving a conflict
Dimension or constraint conflict / are redundant
Resolve the conflict as following
Undo: to the state of not load the dimension
Delete: select a constraint or dimension to remove
Dim>Ref: convert the selected dimension to a reference
Explain: get a description of the constraint

2.6 Auxiliary geometry and parametric sketch example

Point
Construction line
Centerline

Exercise

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Exercise

Exercise

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Exercise

Summary
Basis of sketch and sketcher
First step of parametric sketch: creating geometry
Second step of parametric sketch: manipulate geometry
(including editing and modifying geometry)
Third step of parametric sketch (1): constraining
geometry
Third step of parametric sketch (2): dimensioning
geometry
Auxiliary (construction) geometry and parametric sketch
example

9. Modifying spline