Creating a surface in SOLIDWORKS from a sketch is commonly done using features like the Planar Surface command. This feature allows you to generate a flat surface based on a closed boundary defined by sketch entities or edges.
While SOLIDWORKS doesn't have a feature specifically named "3D Sketch Surface," you can create a Planar Surface using a closed sketch. This sketch can be a standard 2D sketch or a closed loop formed by entities within a 3D sketch, provided the loop lies on a single plane.
The Planar Surface feature is used to fill in an area defined by a closed boundary, creating a flat, planar surface.
Here are the steps to create a Planar Surface from a sketch, referencing the process:
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Prepare Your Sketch:
- You must first create a closed sketch. The sketch needs to form a single, non-intersecting contour.
- Ensure the sketch entities form a complete loop. If you are using a 3D sketch, the entities must lie on a single plane to create a Planar Surface.
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Access the Planar Surface Command:
- Navigate to the Surfaces toolbar.
- Click the Planar Surface icon.
- Alternatively, you can access it via the menu: Insert > Surface > Planar.
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Select the Bounding Sketch:
- In the Planar Surface PropertyManager that appears, locate the Bounding Entities box.
- Select the closed sketch you prepared in step 1 directly in the graphics area or by choosing it from the FeatureManager design tree.
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Confirm the Feature:
- Once the sketch is selected, SOLIDWORKS will preview the planar surface.
- Click the OK (green checkmark) button in the PropertyManager to complete the command and create the surface.
Understanding the Requirements
- Closed Loop: The most critical requirement is a fully closed boundary. The Planar Surface feature cannot fill an open contour.
- Single Contour: The sketch should define only one distinct closed area. Multiple loops within a single sketch might not work or could require additional selections depending on the software version and sketch complexity.
- Planar Boundary: For the Planar Surface feature, the bounding sketch entities or edges must lie on a single plane. If you use a loop from a 3D sketch, ensure that specific loop is planar.
This process allows you to quickly generate flat surfaces from predefined sketch boundaries, which is a fundamental technique in surface modeling within SOLIDWORKS.
| Step | Action | SOLIDWORKS Command/Menu |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Create Sketch | Define a closed, single, non-intersecting contour. | Sketch Tools |
| 2. Start Feature | Initiate the Planar Surface command. | Planar Surface (Surfaces CmdMgr) |
| 3. Select Boundary | Pick the sketch in graphics area or FeatureManager. | Bounding Entities (PropertyMgr) |
| 4. Create Surface | Finalize the command. | OK (PropertyManager) |
Using a closed loop from a 3D sketch can be part of defining the boundary for a Planar Surface, but the feature itself is designed to create a flat surface across that boundary.
