Sketches are the starting point for everything you want to achieve in Solidworks. That is why it is necessary that you pay attention to this lesson and learn how to quickly and efficiently create new sketches.

To begin with, I will show you how to form a sketch. Essentially, the whole process can be compared to classic drawing on a sheet of paper with the difference that the desktop surface in this case is represented by your computer screen. In addition, Solidworks allows you to place that surface in a horizontal (Top Plane) or vertical position (Front Plane and Right Plane), which certainly helps that the new elements are immediately oriented appropriately.

It suits me to place the first sketch on a horizontal surface, so I will click on the Top Plane option and select the Sketch function from the auxiliary menu. I could have achieved the same effect by selecting the item of the same name located at the top of the panel, because after that I would be able to start the Sketch function from the toolbar. In any case, the view of the desktop will be changed and it will now be visible in the right size, this means that the program expects me to run one of the drawing functions and create a new element. They are located in the upper left corner of the screen, so it will not be difficult for me to draw a line, rectangle, circle or some other geometric figure with one stroke. This procedure is practically the same as in other drawing programs, for example Illustrator, Photoshop or ordinary Paint, so I believe that it does not need to be explained in detail. I will still use this opportunity and draw one line, and you can try the other functions on your own.

Before continuing, I will select this line with one move of the mouse and then press the Delete key to remove it from the screen in order to make room for something more concrete. To begin with, I need to draw a rectangle, and this can be done most easily by using the Rectangle function. That is why I will first select the icon of the same name and then click on the coordinate origin and move the cursor to the right so that the corresponding element appears on the screen. At the end, I need to press the left mouse button once more and complete the entire operation. In addition to the lines that represent the edges, several green squares will also appear on the screen at the same time, but we will not deal with their function for now. For now, it’s enough to remember that the sketch you create should somehow be connected to the coordinate origin. This will definitely make any changes easier and allow you to add new elements more easily.

You must have noticed that the edges of this rectangle are not the same color. In other words, the lines that touch the coordinate origin are black, while the other two lines are blue. This means that you can move them and thus change the size of the entire element. In addition, there are several other ways to achieve the same result, but it is best to leave that for one of the following lessons. For now, the most important thing is that there is an element on the sketch that we can use to create a 3D object.

To this end, it is necessary to first click on the Features option and then start the Extruded Boss/Base function from the palette. After that, it won’t be difficult for me to use this black arrow and move its tip up. This will automatically be reflected in the height of the entire element, so I can complete the entire process by selecting this icon.

Now the new 3D element and the sketch from which it was created can be seen simultaneously on the screen, and their characteristics are shown on the panel on the left. Now it is quite clear that the new element is located on the horizontal plane (Top Plane) and that it is connected to the coordinate origin as well as that it was created from the existing sketch.

If you want to make some changes, you need to first select the corresponding item, Sketch1, and then start the Edit Sketch function from the menu. After that, it will not be difficult for you to place the entire element in the appropriate position and change its size or some other characteristic. In this way, I turned the elongated prism into a cube, and you can try another combination.

In a similar way, it is possible to add some new element to the sketch. Of course, first you need to start the Edit Sketch function and then choose any drawing function from the palette. I will use the opportunity to add one circle, but before that I will press the spacebar to place the entire sketch in its normal position. This was obviously a shortcut, but the same effect can be achieved through the functions at the top of the screen. Admittedly, in that case, it is necessary to first open the corresponding menu and then look for the Normal function in it and thus adjust the view of the sketch.

If you want to avoid this step, simply start the function you need right away and add a new element in one go. I will draw a circle in this way, and if I click on the Exit icon after that, it will automatically turn into a hole.

Best of all, he can place the new sketch on any plane. To this end, it is sufficient to select the appropriate option from the menu (Front Plane, Top Plane, Right Plane), and there is the possibility to determine the desired surface by direct selection. I will take the opportunity to select the top plane and add a new circle to it. I can carry out this procedure in any projection, but for better visibility it is recommended that it be in a normal position. Since everything is fine with me, I can switch to the mode that allows me to add new characteristics (Features) and make a new opening using the Extrude Cut function.