CAD
Lesson 3 - Linear patterns and extrudes
extrudes
Extrude: Symmetric
The symmetric feature extrudes the sketch out equally in both directions from the sketch plane.
This will keep the part centered around the sketch plane, which can make later additions easier.
Extrude end types
Extrude: Blind
The blind end type extrudes straight out from the plane that the sketch is on to whatever height you specify in the depth field.
The arrow reverses the direction of the extrude.
This is usually the first extrude you use when creating a part.
Extrude: Up To Next
The up to next end type extrudes a part up to the next closest face.
This is good for things like holes that are supposed to go through a part, but usually it is better to use the up to face end type.
Extrude: Up To Face
The up to face end type allows you to select which surface you want to extrude up to.
This is good for things that fit between pieces as the dimension will be exact. It will also automatically update size if the other part moves (this will save you a lot of work and possible error!)
Extrude: Up To Part
The up to part end type allows you to select which part you want to extrude up to.
This is very similar to the up to face end type, except you cannot specify which face of the part you want to go up to.
Extrude: Up To Vertex
The up to vertex end type allows you to select which vertex you want to extrude up to.
This is very similar to the up to face end type, except you can use it for things that may not have a flat face, such as a cylinder.
Extrude: Through All
The through all end type goes past all other parts.
This is helpful for things like holes that must go through every single part. It will ensure that they are always aligned.
Be careful not to go through more than you want to with this end type! (Especially if you add parts)
Extrude: Offsets
The offset feature allows you to start your extrude above or below the sketch plane.
You can add spacing with this.
This also works with offsetting from endpoints so that you do not touch a face with offset distance.
Add space between the extrude and the sketch plane using starting offset.
Tool-Tip: Line
Construction geometry allows you to create shapes in a sketch that are ignored in the final extrude.
This can provide you with references and guides for your geometric relations and can make dimensioning easier.
Reference geometry will show up as a dotted line.
Keyboard Shortcut: l
You can either select the reference geometry option as you first draw your shape, or you can toggle it by highlighting the feature and selecting reference geometry.
Tool-Tip: Offset
Keyboard Shortcut: o
The offset tool creates a copy of the selected shapes and offsets them by a specified dimension.
This creates gaps and walls.
Click on the arrow to change the direction of the offset (i.e. make it on the inside or outside of what you are trying to offset).
Click to confirm and then set the dimension.
Tool-Tip: Linear Pattern
The linear pattern tool allows you to quickly make copies of a drawing feature or shape.
Start by creating one instance of the pattern to be the reference.
Use the linear pattern tool to create an array of the instance. The numbers pointing to the lines set number of instances in each direction while the dimension sets the distance between the instances.
The arrows can be used to pivot the direction of the pattern. After creating the pattern, you often need to constrain parts of the pattern to make sure it is fully defined.
Tool-Tip: Construction Geometry
Construction geometry allows you to create shapes in a sketch that are ignored in the final extrude.
This can provide you with references and guides for your geometric relations and can make dimensioning easier.
Reference geometry will show up as a dotted line.
Keyboard Shortcut: q
You can either select the reference geometry option as you first draw your shape, or you can toggle it by highlighting the feature and selecting reference geometry.
Tool-Tip: Midpoint
The midpoint relation centers a point on a line.
Midpoints are very helpful for alignment and reference geometry. Midpoint lines are often used to center holes.
Keyboard Shortcut: shift + m
Highlight the point and the line, then select “midpoint.”
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