Ever wondered what those green boxes all around your sketches are? They are called sketch relationships. They are the constraints that are applied to your sketch. They must be used in order to fully define your sketches.
What is a fully defined sketch? A fully defined sketch is when your sketch is a continuous solid black line. It is when the sketch is fully constrained and Solidworks knows exactly what is is. If there is blue in your sketch it is not fully defined an the sketch can be pulled and dragged with the mouse; fully defined sketches cannot/will not alter when a drag or pull is attempted.
Why do I need fully defined sketches? - You are awarded with marks for having fully defined sketches. - Errors and inaccuracies in the modelling process will be reduced.
What is needed to fully define my sketch? - Smart Dimensions - Sketch Relationships - Convert Entities (for Splines only)
Sketch Relationships
What are Sketch Relationships? Sketch relationships are applied to lines, points and curves within your sketches to define what it is you want the sketch to look like. There are numerous relationships to choose from depending on what sketch entities you have selected.
How to apply a relationship to a single entity: - Click on the entity (line, arc, point, curve). - On the bottom of the left toolbar you will see relationships. - Select the desired relationship(s).
Note: Solidworks will only provide the applicable relationships.
How to apply a single relationship to numerous entities at once (multi-select): - Press and hold control (Ctrl) on the bottom left of your keyboard. - Keeping it pressed, select the sketch entities you want to apply the relationship to. - Once you have selected the entities you wish to use, release control. - Again, on the bottom of the left toolbar, select the desired relationship(s).
Examples of each relationship (see corresponding images below): 1. Vertical; makes sketch entities vertical or vertical toeach other (for any number of lines); can also be applied to 2 or more points 2. Horizontal; makes sketch entities horizontal or horizontal to each other(for any number of lines); can also be applied to 2 of more points 3. Parallel; makes lines parallel(between 2 or more lines) 4. Collinear; makes them in line with each other(between 2 or more lines); can also be applied to lines and points 5. Equal; makes equal size (between 2 or more lines, 2 or more curves) 6. Concentric; gives same centre point (between 2 or more circular arcs) 7. Coradial; gives same center point and radius (between 2 or more circular arcs) 8. Tangential; creates a tangent between 2 entities (between a line and an arc, or between 2 arcs) 9. Fix; fixes the point in its position, cannot be moved (can be applied to any entities) 10. Coincident; makes a point and any other entity intersect (between a point and a line, point and a point) 11. Midpoint; moves a point to the middle of a line (between point and a line) 12. Perpendicular; makes lines perpendicular to each other (between 2 lines) 13. Intersect; same as coincident but more points/entities