Mishandling Spline Handles in 3D Sketch 1

[enginerd1959]

I'm having trouble manipulating spline handles using the mouse.

When I try to orient the spline in one view it goes nuts in the other view. A 50mm long handle suddenly becomes >400mm long and looks bizarre in a different view. But when I try to correct it in the new view it goes nuts in the original view.

I know I can key in spline handle lengths and angles but this is tedious. Any other suggestions?

 

[CADGemini]

Are you using the spline in a 3D sketch? If so, you need to be cautious of how much you deform the spline with the handles. I found it helpful to manipulate 3D sketches in the straight on views such as front,top,side,etc. However I was told that the 3D sketch capabilities have been greatly enhanced in 2006.

Best Regards,
Jon

Challenges are what makes life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.

Solidworks 2005 SP3.0

 

[cloche]

Right, jksolid.

Enginerd1959,
Never manipulate anything in a 3D-oriented view, because the mouse pointing would be floating in space and the mapping "2D mouse coordinate in viewport - 3D coordinate in space" is impossible to control.
When you orient the viewport to a "straight-on" view, one of the 3D space coordinates is set to constant, so the handling of the pointer on the window corresponds to the viewing plane directions. To manipulate a handle in 3D, you have to move it sequentially on two orthogonal "straight-on" views.

 

[enginerd1959]

I tried manipulating the handles in straight on views (Top, Front, Right). I also tried a split screen (Front & Right Side view at the same time. As soon as I touch the handle in one view it swings 45 degrees in the other view. I don't even have to move the handle for this to happen. but if I move the handle 10mm in one view it moves many times that amount in the other.

 

[sg20]

I used to design pipe installation for aircraft engines. The better way to do an accurate 3D design is to use coordinate points and then connecting them in 3D drawing.

 

[enginerd1959]

Is that the best way to model free form curves, like plastic hose & wires?

 

[SBaugh]

I think the 3D sketch is the best way and as long you understand how it works, it isn't to hard to work with - SW06 has given 3D sketch a whole new look, and should make things easier to use.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[enginerd1959]

Our IT department waits a year after SolidWorks launches a new version before they let us have access to it. We're in the process of rolling out Solidworks 2005 now.

Based on the feedback in this forum it sounds like there's no easy way to manipulate spline handles in 3D sketches using SWX 2005.

 

[ctopher]

As like everything else, once you start using, you will get used to it.

Chris
Sr. Mechanical Designer, CAD
SolidWorks 05 SP2.0 / PDMWorks 05
ctopher's home site

FAQ559-1100
FAQ559-716

 

[enginerd1959]

I contacted our SWX vendor. He admitted 3D spline editing was awkward in 2005, but improved in 2006.

I'll work with what I've got until we get 2006 next year.

 

[ParaCAD]

I've been getting more involved w/3D Sketch. I see its been said working with it is better than it is in 2005. Can someone explain on what it is that makes it better and easier to use. We'll be moving to '06 soon and just want to see what i have to look forward to.

thx

Adam
Solidworks 2005 SP01.1
Windows 2000

 

[halfmark]

I do a lot of tubing using 3-d splines. We just recently upgraded to SW2005. At first, I too found it difficult to manipulate the control handles. I have found that if first I control the route of the tube by clicking the proportionalbox, and then just use the break points in the spline.I then unclick, and use tangent driving handles to smooth out the spline as best I can, then lastly click reset all handles. This seems to give me a very natural looking tube.

MWG
R.G RAY corp.

 

[J-C]

There is a button on the sketch toolbar to "lock" it onto a surface. Pick a plane or face and hit the button. Everything you sketch will be on that 2d plane with an additional sketch relation "on surface" created for eack sketch entity. They added "Sketch Planes" which are planes inside the sketch (Don't show in the tree).

As of PR1, the function is still a bit flaky. Also, major sketch features such as Mirror, Offset, Move, & Equal Length relation, doesn't work in 2006 so for me the feature isn't really ready for primetime yet.

Last, there is a sketcher Triad that allows you to move points in only X,Y, or Z directions.

For 3d paths, I'd say quite an improvement. But as an alternative to 2d sketching, no dice......yet.

Jason Capriotti
Smith & Nephew, Inc.

 

[Theophilus]

I think something halfmark said was very important. If you use points as defining places for your 3D spline path, you can run your spline through those points and have a more natural path. When you tweak the spline handles, you can get terrible results, but you can reset individual or all handles--very helpful feature if you don't already know about it. (Right-click and select reset handle, if I remember right.)

Combining the points with the handle reset will help generate good splines.

(You can also project two 2D sketches into a 3D sketch for a good 3D spline.)


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[enginerd1959]

Is there a way to move the handles only on an x, y or z plane? I've seen this in other programs & it's very useful.

 

[SBaugh]

SW06 gives better control of Handles and 3Dsketeches.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

http://www.3dvisiontech.com

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376
faq559-716 - SW Fora Users

 

[J-C]

The only way I know of in 2005 or lower is to put the view normal to those axis. You can't select any reference geometry though or it will put it out of the plane.

Jason