Lesson goal
Open a sketch in the right place and draw basic entities with the right tool.
5 videos
1 exercise
Beginner
No prerequisite
1. Watch the videos
Dassault Systèmes videos hosted on MySolidWorks: they open in a new tab and a free account is enough. Watch them in order.
Starting a Sketch on a Plane or FaceChoose where to start a sketch and create the first profile.In French↗ Sketch Entities: Lines and CenterlinesLine options and how to use centerlines.In French↗ Sketch Entities: RectanglesThe different rectangle tools: corner, center, parallelogram.In French↗ Sketch Entities: Circles and ArcsCenter, 3 point and tangent circles and arcs.In French↗ Sketch Entities: Ellipses and SlotsEllipses, partial ellipses, and straight or arc slots.In French↗
2. Key takeaways
A sketch sits on a plane or a planar face: the first sketch of a part almost always starts from an origin plane.
Centerlines act as references (mirror axis, revolve axis) without creating material.
Each tool (center rectangle, tangent arc, slot) already adds relations: fewer constraints to add afterwards.
Draw the approximate shape first; dimensions and relations bring it to the right size.
Tip
Place the first sketch on the origin and make it pass through it: the part stays centered and later mirrors become easy.
3. Do the exercise
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