Can you replace a sketch in a feature?

[trulyshy]

I could have sworn I have seen this done..

for example:
you have a sketch of a circle which has been extruded, and a different sketch which is a square. I could have sworn someone showed me how to "replace" the circle sketch with the square sketch.... and the extrude is now a cube instead of a rod...

Does anyone know what I am talking about? Or am I remembering things that have never happened??

Thanks
Christine

 

[MadMango]

This can be achieved through configurations.

"Art without engineering is dreaming; Engineering without art is calculating."

Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[trulyshy]

Madmango,

Do you mean have one configuration with one feature and a second configuration with another feature?

I know I can do this, but while at training I could have sworn I watched the guy have two sketches under one feature and he kind of toggled betweent he two...

Christine

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Can you explain more what you are actually trying to accomplish?

Are the sketches in the same part or different parts?

Once a feature is created you can edit any part of the sketch or if necessary delete it entirely and replace it with geometry from another sketch.

 

[trulyshy]

I have a part which will have two configurations of a cut.

The cuts are completely different, so I can not alter the sketch from one configuration to the next.

I was going to have two cuts and suppress the one feature or the other in the different configurations. Than I remembered (or so I think I remember) seeing the one guy at training actually have two sketches for on feature and toggled between them somehow. I thought this would be a good way to get my two configurations instead of suppressing the features.

So, now I am on the quest to find out if you can do this or not. You don't need different configurations, but I was planning on using it that way...

He either toggled between two sketched, or replaced on for the other... it seemed easy enough to remember at the time, so I didn't bother writting anything down...

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

You could have multiple shapes drawn in a sketch and toggle each shape from construction to solid geometry. Perhaps that is what you were being shown. I can't think of a valid reason to create a feature that way though. A config with different features would be a much simpler toggle.

 

[trulyshy]

yes, I've seen the multiple shapes in one sketch and toggle them, that wasn't it.

Boy, this is starting to get scary. I honestly could have sworn..

It was almost as if he had done a copy past of the sketch in the feature tree. At first I thought he RMB and did a replace, but I looked there is no replace...

I will have to call the guy and ask him, this is staring to bug me now.....

Christine

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

If you were using a Swept Cut (or any cut where a sketch profile has to be selected) you could then edit the feature and switch sketches ... but that would involve having separate sketches.

 

[SBaugh]

I don't think there is a replace sketch only a replace component... What I think you saw was a configuration switch... where you can suppress one feature and then the other feature per the config used.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[trulyshy]

Yes, he had seperate sketches...

How do you switch sketches in this case?

Maybe this is what I remember..

C

 

[SBaugh]

Make each sketch into a feature.

Make 2 configs

In one config suppress the circle feature

activate the other config and suppress the square.

Now if you toggle between the 2 configs one feature will be a circle while the other will be a square.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[trulyshy]

No, dang, that wasn't it... I know it wasn't two configurations. But, this is how I will do it...

But, I will still call the guy. I will update and post it if it is possible, or let you guys know that I'm slowly but surely fading....

Christine

 

[dgowans]

trulyshy,

Could it possibly have been different sketch contours? Draw 2 closed profiles in the same sketch and select which portion(s) of the sketch you want to use for the extrude feature.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

trulyshy ... you can only switch sketches in certain types of cuts. Sweeps, Lofts, etc, where a profile and a path are required. I don't know of a way to switch sketches for a regular cut-extrude.

 

[trulyshy]

Ok,

I was not able to reach Mike. I left him an email, so I hope he replies soon. Maybe it was in a sweep or loft where he showed it to us... and that is what I am remembering...

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

dgowans ... Yes, that would do it.

I still think a config is the better way though. It is much easier to see when trying to troubleshoot the part weeks, months, years from now.

 

[trulyshy]

I will have to do it with configurations. Even if I can switch out the sketches, how do I control them in the different config's.... so, two different features is probably the way to go.

C

 

[trulyshy]

Ahhh but I do know a good reason why you would want to do it this way....

If I have a extrude early on in my feature tree, and I suppress it in one configuration, I might be suppressing children too which I might not want suppressed...

If I can just use a different sketch, I don't suppress everything...

 

[rfus]

It is Constuction Geometry in a sketch. put in two sketches. Make a square and a circle. Now toggle the circle to constuction geometry, it will use the square. Go back in and use construction geometry to turn them back.

Is this it?

 

[rfus]

1 feature. using construction geometry to go from square to circle.

RFUS