Page 111 - Mastering SolidWorks

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80 CHAPTER 3 Working With SketcheS and reference geometry

The Split Entities tool splits a sketch entity into two segments, automatically adding appropri-
ate sketch relations and automatically adding colinear, coradial, or tangent relations for lines,
arcs, and splines. You can also delete it later to rejoin the entity back into a single segment. You
should be aware that the rejoining works only if there is a colinear relation between line seg-
ments, a coradial relation between arcs, or a tangent or Equal Curvature relation between splines.
If you split the entity and delete these relations, they cannot be rejoined. Closed-loop entities
require at least two split points.
The Dynamic Mirror command can be used when you preselect a centerline and Dynamic
Mirror is turned on. Any new sketch entity that you draw is automatically mirrored to the other
side of the centerline. The ends of the mirror line have hatch marks on them to remind you that
you have mirroring turned on. A word of caution: If a line is drawn normal to the centerline with
the endpoint on the centerline, it will just be doubled in size.
The Segment tool either places equally spaced sketch points along an existing sketch
entity or breaks the entity up into a number of equal length segments. It acts as a pattern
along a curve. The resulting segment is editable, so you can delete or add points, and they
will autospace dynamically. This is an excellent tool for the Hole Wizard or for Sketch
Driven Patterns.
The Linear Sketch Pattern tool creates a one- or two-directional pattern of sketch entities. You
can define spacing and angles.
The Circular Sketch Pattern tool creates a circular pattern of sketch entities.

Best Practice

you should use sketch patterns as little as possible. for many of the same reasons that fillet fea-
tures are preferred over sketch fillets, pattern features are preferred over sketch patterns. Sketch
patterns are not as editable or as flexible as feature patterns. they solve slowly, especially when
you pattern many entities. Best practice is to avoid sketch patterns unless there is no alternative.

The Make Path function is intended to help create machine-design motion in sketches, in
particular, cam-type motion. Although it is helpful, you do not need to make a block of the cam
first. You can then right-click the block and select Make Path. A tangent relation to a path enables
a follower to roll around the entire perimeter.
The Modify Sketch tool is one of the few remaining dialog box interfaces in the software
that doesn’t use the PropertyManager. It enables you to move, rotate, and scale the sketch, as
well as mirror about a horizontal or vertical axis or about both axes simultaneously. Figure 3.22
shows the interface, which consists of a dialog box, a special origin-like symbol, and a context-
sensitive cursor.
Both the left and right mouse buttons have special functions, which change when the cursor is
moved over the three knots on the special Modify Sketch origin. The RMB enables you to mirror
or rotate the sketch, and the left mouse button (LMB) enables you to move the origin or move
the sketch.
This function has some limitations when you use it with sketches that have external relations.
Certain functions may be disabled or a warning message may appear, saying that you need to
remove external relations to get a particular function to work correctly. It is best used for control-
ling the orientation of Derived Sketches that by default cannot have internal relations.
The No Solve Move option enables the moving of sketch entities without solving any
relations in the sketch. If you select this option and you move an entity with relations that