Parametric Sketching

Motivation
Solid primitives not typically supported in
parametric modelers  must create a 2D
profile, then sweep
Feature Creation Procedure
1. Choose sketch plane, either a:
 Default work plane
 Planar face of existing feature
 Work plane
2. Rough sketch
 Some geometric constraints applied
3. Add/delete geometric constraints
4. Parametric dimensioning
5. Feature creation
6. Repeat 1 - 5
Construction Geometry
Geometry created as part of
the parametric modeling
process that does not
represent actual part
geometry. Includes:
 Work planes
 Work axes
 Work points
Construction geometry
appears in feature tree
 Default Construction Geometry:
Inventor
Work planes – mutually perpendicular
 YZ
 XZ
 XY
Work Axes
 X (red)
 Y (green)
 Z (blue)
Work Point
 Origin of WCS
Rough Sketch
Parametric sketching
imitates actual
sketching process 
rough, approximate
Sketch Plane Views

View normal to Isometric View

sketch plane
Geometric Constraints
Typical constraints include: vertical,
horizontal, collinear, concentric, tangent, etc.
Inventor constraints
Display Geometric Constraints
Software includes option to show
constraints
Add/Delete Constraints
User can manually (explicitly) add
constraints
tangent concentric

equal
Parametric Dimensions
Add parametric
dimensions to fully
constrain profile
Each parametric
dimension has two
components:
 Numerical value
 Name

Fully Constrained Sketch

Parametric Dimensions - 2
Default parameter names (e.g., d0) can be changed
Equations can be used to generate parameter value
Under and Over-constrained Sketches
Vertical position of Angle not
hole not specified necessary

Under-constrained Over-constrained
Parametric Sketching